Buying welders
Can I run a welder off a normal power point?
Quick answer
Yes up to a point: any 10 A-rated welder runs from a standard Australian power point — that covers most machines up to about 180 A claimed output. Machines rated 15 A need a 15 A outlet (a different, larger plug), and three-phase machines need an industrial supply. Never file a 15 A plug down to fit a 10 A point.
Reading the plug
| Plug type | Circuit | Typical machines |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 3-pin (10 A) | domestic power point | most hobby MIGs, 135–180 A inverters |
| 15 A flat-pin | 15 A circuit + outlet | 200 A+ MIG/TIG, larger plasma |
| Three-phase / industrial | 3-phase supply | 250 A+ production welders, 2–3 kW lasers |
Duty cycle reality on 10 A
A 10 A circuit at 240 V supplies 2,400 W continuous. Inverters are efficient, but long high-amp beads will still trip the machine's thermal protection before the breaker. If you're welding above ~140 A for minutes at a time, a dedicated 15 A circuit is the honest answer — an electrician installs one in an hour or two.