Checking your Tool's Power and Extension Cords

If you are having problems with your power cord or extension cord, follow this checklist to confirm your power source and check your plugs, sockets and power cord:

If your tool is not powering down completely but you suspect a power problem, check your power source.

• If you are working from a generator:
  • Confirm that the fuel is clean (especially in the winter)
  • Check that its output is good
  • Check that the total power of all tools connected is not more than 80% of the continuous power rating (not the standby power rating) of the generator.
• If you question any of these, run only the VARIMAT with clean fuel and no extension cord and see if your problem goes away

If your tool is powering down completely in the middle of welding:

• Check that all twist-lock plugs are locked in
• Check that the current rating of the plugs match the current rating of the sockets they mate into. If not, change plug or socket that is wrong, to match.
• Check the cord with the power turned on and the heat off. If the tool is already on and hot, cool it off first.
  • Take hold of the cord at the point closest to the tool with one hand. Make a circular motion to pull the cord in all directions. If the power turns off even for a moment, there is a break in the cord at that spot (this is the most common spot, caused by the user pulling the VARIMAT or correcting tracking by pulling on the cord).
  • To test the rest of the cord, grasp the cord with one hand beside the other at the tool. Move one hand in a circle one way at the same time as moving the other hand in a circle the other way. If the power turns off even for a moment, there is a break in the cord near that spot. Repeat from one end of the cord to the other to find the break. If the break is close to one end of the cord, remove the plug or socket at that end, pull the broken wire out, place it beside the cord to see where the break was, and cut the broken area away.

​See our article on How to Build an Extension Cord for your Leister Automatic Tool if you need to build a replacement cord.