Question for Thunderbolt experts . . . ..

[Markopolo]

Regarding my Thunderbolt XL....on a.c. you have a choice of
a normal or high range.
For instance: If I want to use 160 amps a.c., I can use the normal range and crank the crank up to 160....OR use the high range, and crank the crank down to 160.

Question #1: What effect (if any) does this have on the arc ?

Question #2: Can I use it in the high range and crank it down to a lower amperage setting, even though it's not marked on the dial ? THANKS !

[Franz]

For absolutely no reason I can site, common practice is to set the range high and operate in the middle of the range, rather than set the range lo and crank it to the top.
There may or may not be a good reason for this, damned if I know, but that's the way I was told to run machines.

[fla jim]

You do that because of duty cycle. When I had my old Sears buzz box, it had two ranges. I forget the exact stttings, But at about 100 amps low range it was about 40% duty cycle. At 100 amps high range, it was 100% duty cycle.