Filter
Top Products
OPERATION
B-2 B-2
POWERARC® 5500
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire section before oper-
ating your POWERARC® 5500.
Do not attempt to use this equipment until you have
thoroughly read all the operation and maintenance man-
uals supplied with your machine. They include impor-
tant safety precautions; detailed engine starting, operat-
ing, and maintenance instructions; and parts lists.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
•
Do not touch electrically live parts or elec-
trodes with your skin or wet clothing.
• Insulate yourself from the work and ground.
• Always wear dry insulating gloves.
FUMES AND GASES can be dangerous.
• Keep your head out of fumes.
• Use ventilation or exhaust to
remove fumes from breathing zone.
WELDING SPARKS can cause fire or explosion.
• Keep flammable material away.
• Do not weld on containers that have
held combustibles.
ARC RAYS can burn.
• Wear eye, ear, and body protection.
ENGINE EXHAUST can kill.
• Use in open, well ventilated areas or
vent exhaust to the outside.
• Do not stack anything on or near the
engine.
MOVING PARTS can injure.
• Do not operate this equipment with
any of its doors open or guards off.
• Stop the engine before servicing it.
• Keep away from moving parts.
Only qualified personnel should install, use, or ser-
vice this equipment.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The POWERARC® 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 electrodes. 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 POWERARC® 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 POWERARC® 5500 gives AC generator output for
medium use, non-commercial demands. For more details
on operating the generator, see GENERATOR OPERA-
TION in the OPERATION section of this manual.
WELDER
The POWERARC® 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 POWERARC® 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, running,
stopping, and breaking in the gasoline engine.
WELDING CAPABILITY
The POWERARC® 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 POWERARC® 5500 can weld with all
3/32 and most 1/8 inch diameter Lincoln AC elec-
trodes.
WARNING
Return to Section TOC Return to Section TOC Return to Section TOC Return to Section TOC
Return to Master TOC Return to Master TOC Return to Master TOC Return to Master TOC