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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.
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.
Not necessarily. Remotes are normally made for particular machines or ranges, and the plug, the number of pins and the way each pin is wired differ between makes and even between models of the same make. Two plugs that look identical may be wired differently.The machine must also have a socket for a remote. Check your machine's manual or rating plate for the model and its remote connection, and match the remote to the machine, not just to the plug. If you are not sure, our team can help you match one.
There is no single standard for remote connections, so each maker (and sometimes each range) has chosen its own connector and wiring. Some use round multi-pin plugs, some use square or rectangular ones, and the number of pins varies from just a few to a dozen or more.The pins carry signals such as the current control, the on and off switch and sometimes a supply voltage, so a mismatch can mean a pedal that does not work or one that behaves oddly. Always match the wiring, not only the look of the plug.
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.
