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B-1
OPERATION
B-1
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire section before oper-
ating your POWER-ARC 5500.
Do
n
not
a
attempt
t
to
u
use
t
this
e
equipment
u
until
y
you
have
t
thoroughly
r
read
a
all
t
the
o
operation
a
and
m
main-
tenance
m
manuals
s
supplied
w
with
y
your
m
machine.
They
i
include
i
important
s
safety
p
pr ecaut ions;
detailed
e
engine
s
starting,
o
operating,
a
and
m
mainte-
nance
i
instructions;
a
and
p
parts
l
lists.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
•
D
Do
n
not
t
touch
e
electrically
l
live
p
parts
or
e
electrodes
w
with
y
your
s
skin
o
or
w
wet
clothing.
•
I
Insulate
y
yourself
f
from
t
the
w
work
a
and
g
ground.
•
A
Always
w
wear
d
dry
i
insulating
g
gloves.
FUMES AND GASES can be
dangerous.
•
K
Keep
y
your
h
head
o
out
o
of
f
fumes.
•
U
Use
v
venti lation
o
or
e
exhaust
t
to
remove
f
fumes
f
from
b
breathing
z
zone.
WELDING SPARKS can cause
fire or explosion.
•
K
Keep
f
flammable
m
material
a
away.
•
D
Do
n
not
w
weld
o
on
c
containers
t
that
h
have
held
c
combustibles.
ARC RAYS can burn.
•
W
Wear
e
eye,
e
ear,
a
and
b
body
p
protection.
ENGINE EXHAUST can kill.
•
U
Use
i
in
o
open,
w
well
v
ventilated
a
areas
o
or
vent
e
exhaust
t
to
t
the
o
outside.
•
D
Do
n
not
s
stack
a
anything
o
on
o
or
n
near
t
the
engine.
MOVING PARTS can injure.
•
D
Do
n
not
o
operate
t
this
e
equipment
w
with
any
o
of
i
its
d
doors
o
open
o
or
g
guards
o
off.
•
S
Stop
t
the
e
engine
b
before
s
servicing
i
it.
•
K
Keep
a
away
f
from
m
moving
p
parts.
Only
q
qualified
p
personnel
s
should
i
install,
u
use,
o
or
s
ser-
vice
t
this
e
equipment.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The POWER-ARC 5500 is a generator/welder designed
for home use and other non-commercial applications.
As a generator it can supply up to 4,000 continuous
watts (or 5,500 surge watts) of 120/240 volt, single-
phase AC power. As a welder it provides 125 amps of
AC constant current for welding with AC stick elec-
trodes. A single dial provides continuous adjustment of
welding output. The machine is lightweight, portable,
and can be lifted by two people.
The Lincoln warranty covers the Power-Arc 5500
(excluding the engine) for 3 years from the date of pur-
chase. The engine is covered by the engine manufactur-
er’s warranty policy.
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
GENERATOR
The POWER-ARC 5500 gives AC generator output for
medium use, non-commercial demands. For more
details on operating the generator, see GENERATOR
OPERATION in the OPERATION section of this manual.
WELDER
The POWER-ARC 5500 provides excellent constant cur-
rent AC welding output for stick (SMAW) welding. For
more details on using the machine as a welder, see
WELDING OPERATION in the OPERATION section of
this manual.
OPERATIONAL FEATURES AND
CONTROLS
The POWER-ARC 5500 was designed for simplicity.
Therefore, it has very few operating controls. A single
dial on the control panel lets you select either generator
or welding use. For welding, the same dial selects con-
tinuous current output over the machine’s 70 to 125
amp range.
The gasoline engine controls include a recoil starter,
choke, and rotary stop switch. See ENGINE OPERA-
TION in the OPERATION section of this manual and the
engine owner’s manual for details about starting, run-
ning, stopping, and breaking in the gasoline engine.
WELDING CAPABILITY
The POWER-ARC 5500 is rated 125 amps, 20 volts at
30% duty cycle on a ten-minute basis. This means
that you can load the welder to 125 amps for three
minutes out of every ten-minute period. The machine
is also capable of higher duty cycles at lower output
currents. You can load the welder to 100 amps for six
minutes out of ten for a 60% duty cycle.
The current is continuously variable from 70 to 125
amps AC. The POWER-ARC 5500 can weld with all
3/32 and most 1/8 inch diameter Lincoln AC elec-
trodes.
POWER-ARC 5500
WARNING