B-1
OPERATION
B-1
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire section before oper-
ating your POWER-ARC 5500.
Do not attempt to use this equipment until you
have thoroughly read all the operation and main-
tenance manuals supplied with your machine.
They include important safety precautions;
detailed engine starting, operating, and mainte-
nance instructions; and parts lists.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
• Do not touch electrically live parts
or electrodes 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 POWER-ARC 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 Power-Arc 5500 (excluding
the engine) for 3 years from the date of purchase. The
engine is covered by the engine manufacturer’s warranty
policy.
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
GENERATOR
The POWER-ARC 5500 gives AC generator output for
medium use, non-commercial demands. For more details
on operating the generator, see GENERATOR OPERATION
in the OPERATION section of this manual.
WELDER
The POWER-ARC 5500 provides excellent constant current
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 POWER-ARC 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 continuous
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 OPERATION 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 POWER-ARC 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 POWER-ARC 5500 can weld with all 3/32 and
most 1/8 inch diameter Lincoln AC electrodes.
POWER-ARC 5500
WARNING
