Fronius Machine Remotes FAQs
Practical answers on pedals, hand remotes and extension cables for TIG and stick welding machines of this type.
Why does a pedal help on thin metal and aluminium?
A pedal lets you change the current while the arc is running, so you can start with more heat and then ease off as the work warms up. Thin sheet is the obvious case: you back off the pedal as the metal heats, which reduces the risk of burn-through.
Aluminium soaks up a lot of heat before the weld pool forms, so many welders start with more current and then reduce it along the joint. On a fixed current you would have to stop and change the setting instead.
Set the machine's maximum to the job first, then use the pedal for fine control below it.
Why do the 2-step and 4-step torch modes disappear when I plug in a remote?
On many machines a connected pedal or hand remote takes over the start/stop and current control from the torch trigger, so the trigger modes are greyed out or unavailable while the remote is detected. Spot modes can be affected in the same way.
This is normal behaviour, not a fault. Unplug the remote and the trigger modes normally return. Which modes are affected, and whether a remote symbol shows on the display, depends on the machine, so check the machine's operating instructions and the instructions that come with the remote.
I have several TIG machines in one workshop. Can the wrong pedal start an arc?
Yes, it can be a real risk. A maker's instructions for a wireless pedal warn that unexpected ignition can be triggered by another pedal remote control connected to the same power source, and tell the user to make sure the correct pedal is connected to the correct machine.
With wireless pedals, check the pairing identifier on the pedal against the one shown on the machine. With wired pedals, use the right socket and keep the cable with its machine. Never leave a pedal switched on and unattended near the pedal of a different machine. Follow the maker's instructions and your own risk assessment.
What should I know about a wireless pedal: pairing, range and batteries?
Typically you switch the pedal on, switch the machine on and enable its wireless function, then confirm the pedal on the machine display. Check the identifier printed on the pedal matches the one the machine shows, so you pair the right unit.
Range is limited. One maker quotes up to about 10 metres in a straight line with nothing in the way, and metal fabrications and other interference can reduce it. Pedals normally run on ordinary batteries, and a weak or flat battery can leave the status light off, so keep spares. Wait a few seconds after switching the pedal off before switching it on again, as the maker advises, so the switch-off is detected.