I am trying to locate plans to build a homemade load bank to check arc welders after repairs have been completed on them ,I am looking for something simple !.... I need to check up to at least 750 amps, both AC & DC !...anyone have any ideas...been checking google but have had no luck so far !...anybody have any ideas ?

-- newbie (info110@lycos.com), December 15, 2002

Answers

I am guessing that the welder puts out about 40 volts. The resistance required would be about 0.05 ohms, and the power is 30,000 watts. I feel you could use a parallel bank of ten 300 watt 0.5 ohm resistors as in www.ohmite.com/catalog/280_series.html and run them under water. If you are after a continuous load, you will have to use running water, and experiment with the flow. I'll bet a few gallons a minute will be more than enough. The website referenced also has mounting brackets, etc.

-- David Bacon Update Technology (dbacon@updatetechnology.com), January 03, 2003.