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Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing, fitting and using remote controls and foot pedals for welding machines.
A remote lets you change the welding current while you weld, without going back to the machine. The most common types are foot pedals, which you press with your foot to raise and lower the current; fingertip or thumb controls that attach to the torch or the hand; hand-held remotes on a cable; and rotary or linear amperage controls that fix to the torch.Some also switch the arc on and off, so they take the place of a torch switch. They are used mainly for TIG welding, where controlling the heat as you go gives a better weld.
It depends on how and where you weld. A foot pedal frees both hands for the torch and filler rod, and is the usual choice for bench work and anywhere you can sit or stand in a steady position. A fingertip or torch-mounted control suits site work, awkward positions, welding on pipes or out of position, and anywhere a pedal is hard to reach or use.A hand-held remote is useful when someone else adjusts the current. Many welders use a pedal in the workshop and a torch control for fieldwork.
Compatible remotes are made for many machines and can work well, provided they are wired correctly for your model. A remote that fits the plug but is wired differently may not work, and could cause a fault in the machine.Check that the remote is stated to suit your exact machine, check the manual or ask the machine maker, including about the warranty, since using parts that are not from the maker can sometimes affect it. If a remote needs wiring to a plug, have it done by a competent person.
On most machines, the current set on the front panel acts as the maximum, and the pedal or remote then controls the current from a low value up to that maximum. Pressing the pedal fully gives the set current; releasing it brings the current down.Some machines need you to switch to remote mode, or to select a particular setting, before they pay attention to the remote. Check the manual for your model, since the way it works varies.
