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Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and using portable site wire feeders.
CC stands for constant current, the output type of stick and TIG power sources, and CV stands for constant voltage, the output type normally used for MIG welding. A CC/CV feeder is designed to work with either kind of power source.This means you can often use a feeder with a stick-type machine, an engine-driven welder or a MIG power source, as long as the machine has a suitable DC output and enough current. Always check the feeder maker's list of suitable power sources before connecting it.
It is a feeder that takes its power and control signal from the welding output itself, by sensing the arc voltage, rather than from a separate mains supply or a multi-core control cable. The motor speed follows the voltage the feeder sees at the arc.The benefit is simplicity: you connect the welding lead to the feeder, a lead to the work, and the gas hose, and it is ready to go. It makes a good portable set-up for site and fabrication work, and for use with engine-driven welders.
A site feeder suits jobs where the power source is heavy or fixed and the welding is some distance away, such as on structures, ships, large fabrications and construction sites. Only the light suitcase-style feeder has to be carried to the weld, not the whole machine.It is also a way to use a robust power source for flux-cored wire in tough conditions. The reach is limited by the length and size of the welding lead, so a very long run needs a heavier cable.
Portable feeders are made for particular spool sizes, with smaller spools being lighter and easier to carry, and larger spools lasting longer between changes. Check the feeder's specification for the biggest spool diameter and weight it can hold.It is also important that the spool fits on the spindle and runs freely. A spool that is too heavy for the feeder, or that binds, will cause poor feeding. Choose the spool size by how portable you need the feeder to be and how long you want to weld between changes.
The drive rolls grip the wire and push it through, so they must match the wire's diameter and type. Rolls with a V-shaped groove are generally used for solid steel wire, rolls with a knurled groove for cored wire so they grip without crushing it, and U-shaped grooves for soft aluminium wire.A feeder may have two rolls or four, with four-roll feeders gripping more evenly and feeding more reliably. Use the sizes marked on the rolls, fit them as the maker shows, and set the pressure just high enough to feed without squashing the wire.
How you set it depends on how the feeder is connected and the type of power source. With a constant-voltage source, the voltage is usually set on the power source and the wire speed on the feeder. With a constant-current source, the feeder speed control mainly decides the arc voltage and the current together.Follow the maker's instructions for the combination you are using, then make small adjustments while welding a test piece. Listen for a steady crackle, and look for a stable arc and a smooth bead.