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Speedtec 180C & 200C
The new Lincoln Speedtec 180C & 200C Multi Process Welder range. This latest innovation from Lincoln provides Mig, Stick and Tig capability into a compact, lightweight and portable package. These features make the range extremely versatile; they can be used for various applications and can easily be moved around production facilities effortlessly. The units can be powered from mains supply or also by motor generators. the Speedtec range also features power factor correction (PFC), a feature which supports high output welding current from a single phase 230V 1Ph 50/60Hz allowing the use of a long (up to 100m) primary extension cable.

The Speedtec range is offered in three packages, power supply only, ready to weld package and the multi-process ready to weld package.

The ready to weld package includes: Workpiece Cable and Clamp, LG 250 3m Mig torch, Gas Regulator and Nut and Nipple Set.

The Multi-Process ready to weld package includes: Workpiece Cable and Clamp, MMA Welding lead, LG 250 3m Mig torch, LTG 17V 4m TIG torch, Gas Regulator, Nut & Nipple Set.

Speedtec 180C & 200C FAQs

Answers for buyers choosing a compact single-phase multi-process welder for MIG, TIG and stick work.

What does duty cycle mean on a welder?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Duty cycle is the share of a fixed rating period in which the welder can run at a stated current without overheating. The data plate and manual state the period. At lower currents the same machine can usually run for longer, and each process may have its own rating.

Read the rating at the current you will actually weld at, not just the headline maximum. If the machine overheats, a thermal protection device usually stops it until it has cooled, so leave the fan vents clear and let it run to cool down.

Can it be used outdoors or in damp conditions?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Check the rating plate for the enclosure protection (IP) rating and what it means for the places you will use it. A rating that allows outdoor use does not mean it is rain-proof, so shelter it from direct rain and keep the vents clear.

For wet or humid places, confined spaces or large areas of bare metal, check whether the power source is marked as suitable for increased electrical hazard, and take advice if it is not. Assess the risk first and follow the manual.

What fume protection do I need when welding with it?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Welding fume, including from mild steel, can harm health. General ventilation does not achieve the necessary control, so engineering controls are expected indoors. The most effective way to reduce welding fume is to capture it at source with local exhaust ventilation, and on-torch extraction can be very effective for MIG welding. Movable hoods rely on the welder placing and moving them correctly.

Where extraction alone is not enough, suitable respiratory protective equipment is needed, and a powered or supplied air respirator is often the best option for arc welders. You cannot rely on local exhaust ventilation outdoors, so suitable respiratory protection is needed there, and others nearby must be protected too. Base your choices on a risk assessment.

What can I TIG weld with it?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Compact multi-process machines usually give DC TIG, which suits steel, stainless steel and similar metals. Aluminium needs AC, so a DC-only machine is the wrong choice for aluminium. Arc starting is by lift start, where you touch the tungsten to the work and lift it to strike the arc, rather than by high frequency. This avoids high frequency interference and keeps the risk of tungsten inclusions low.

You also need a TIG torch, shielding gas (normally argon), a regulator suited to it, a tungsten and a filler rod. Check the manual to see whether the unit has a gas valve on the torch or a separate one, and what current range it gives for TIG.

Can I use gasless flux-cored wire, and does the polarity change?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Many compact MIG machines can run self-shielded (gasless) flux-cored wire, which is useful outdoors where wind blows shielding gas away. Most gasless wires run with the electrode on the negative terminal, the reverse of the usual solid-wire set-up, but the wire maker's data sheet is the authority.

On many multi-process welders the polarity is changed by swapping the leads or links on the output terminals. Running the wrong polarity tends to give heavy spatter, poor penetration and an unstable arc. Flux-cored wire also needs the correct feed roller shape. Check your manual for how polarity is changed.

What does a multi-process welder do, and what are its limits?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

A multi-process welder is one inverter power source that can run more than one welding process, typically MIG (wire-fed), stick (MMA) and DC TIG. It suits workshops, site and maintenance work where you move between jobs and want one compact machine instead of several.

The trade-offs are that a fault takes every process out at once, and some processes are limited. Many compact units give DC TIG only, which suits steel and stainless but not aluminium, which needs AC. Torches and leads for the extra processes may be separate items, and for long production runs a dedicated machine may suit better. Check the processes, current ranges and duty cycle on the data plate and in the manual before choosing.