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Practical answers on setting up, using and looking after hand remotes, foot pedals and torch controls for TIG welding machines.
With a foot pedal you hold the pedal down to weld and release it to stop, which matches the 2T (press to start, release to stop) trigger logic. 4T is a latching mode where you press and release the trigger to start and press and release again to stop, so the arc keeps running with no hand or foot held down. That does not suit a pedal that has to stay pressed.Most machine makers therefore tell you to set 2T when using a pedal. Some machines handle this automatically or have their own behaviour, so check the manual for your machine and remote.
Largely, yes. Upslope and downslope are timed ramps that the machine runs automatically at the start and end of a weld, usually with a torch trigger. A foot pedal or hand remote lets you do the same thing yourself, rising smoothly to the working current and easing off at the end to fill the crater, and it also lets you change heat mid-weld.When a pedal is connected, many welders simply leave the slope times at minimum. How the machine treats slope with a remote connected depends on the model, so check its manual.
Aluminium conducts heat away quickly, so it often needs more current to start the pool, then less as the work warms up. Thin sheet and edges also overheat quickly. With a pedal you can start with more heat, ease back as the metal warms and taper off at the end, all without stopping or reaching for the machine.That helps you hold a steady travel speed and bead shape and reduces the risk of burn-through. A pedal is not essential for every job, and many welders also practise without one so they learn what current a given thickness needs.
A basic torch switch only tells the machine to start and stop the arc. A remote current control, such as a pedal, hand remote or a control in the torch handle, also sends a variable signal that sets the current between the minimum and your maximum. They usually use different wiring and connectors, so a plain switch cannot give current control.Designs with the on/off switch and current control in the handle are often preferred to foot controls. Whether a given control works with your machine depends on the machine's socket and wiring, so check the manual and data plate.
