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View Full Version : Tap and Continuous Control, whats the diffrerence?

DoctorDuke
09-20-2005, 09:56 PM
Regarding welding equipment, I noticed that Lincoln Electric has two versons of the 175 with the only difference being tap or continuous control (http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/lecocompare.asp?2519=on&7083=on) . Searching google got me some technical answers but I am unsure how they relate to welding.
Munchies
09-20-2005, 10:49 PM
Tap has like 4 settings. the cont is infinite control

voltage control that is
TheBandit
09-21-2005, 12:03 AM
What he said.

Tap means you will only be able to select from four discrete voltage settings (the knob has four positions)

Continuous means you can move the knob to ANY position between the highest and lowest setting.
DoctorDuke
09-21-2005, 12:22 AM
Ahh, I see.

What then is the signifigence of this? Besides having more control over the voltage, why have the option of tap or continuous? It would seem tap has no advantage over continuous.
BrettM
09-21-2005, 12:24 AM
continous, infinite adjustment is better and gives you a little more control, but more expensive.
PAToyota
09-21-2005, 08:02 AM
Yep, only benefit to tap is that it is cheaper.
Krylon..
09-21-2005, 08:47 AM
Sort of off topic....

But is it possible to take a Lincoln with Tap controls and swap the knob/switch to a continuous style? Or is there more than needs to be changed than just the switch?
PAToyota
09-21-2005, 10:41 AM
Well, considering the juice involved it is a bit more than just a "switch" but conceivably you could swap out what you have and "upgrade" it to the continuous control. I'm guessing that buying the parts involved is going to be more expensive than the cost difference between the two models.
Albin
09-21-2005, 11:14 AM
Sort of off topic....

But is it possible to take a Lincoln with Tap controls and swap the knob/switch to a continuous style? Or is there more than needs to be changed than just the switch?

Probably not, since the continuous control knob controls a PC board as opposed to 4 different taps off of a transformer as in the non-Plus model. Look at page F-1 of the Op manuals for each unit.

Manuals, with circuit diagrams, for both the SP-175 and SP-175 Plus, available for free *.pdf download here:
Lincoln op manuals (http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/lecooperatorsmanualsearch.asp)

Al