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reverse polarity

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:12 pm
by timwilks13
Finally got set up with gas for my welder so I can stop using fluxed core wire, however the manual says when switching to gassed welding to swap the polarity of the terminals, any one know why? I've done it but just wandering if anyone knows why that might be?

Re: reverse polarity

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:21 pm
by Anton
*some* flux core gassless mig wire requires the MIG to be set up with reversed polarity. It reduces spatter. I don't know if all gasless needs it, but I know some do at the very least.

If your MIG wasn't reversed in the first place, you should swap it back.

Better still, find out if the lance is the anode or cathode (positive or negative). If it's currently the cathode (negative) then swap it over. Gasless should run the lance as the anode (positive).

I'm 70% sure that's the right way around. I'm sure someone'll put me right if I've got that backwards.

Re: reverse polarity

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:03 pm
by timwilks13
Cheers bud! There's 2 huge terminals on the front of the welder so just connected them up as the manual suggests, I was just curious about the why!

Re: reverse polarity

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:04 pm
by ROBBIE
I've got a clarke gas/gasless mig and have to swap that round