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SMAW Currents and Polarities

DC - Direct Current
Current or amperage travels in one direction only, negative to
positive, where the electrode can be either + or - and the wor or
ground being opposite, - or +!
Advantages
- more electrodes are DC compatible
- more versatility with regards to operating characteristics given a
choice between Straight Polarity "electrode -# or $everse Polarity
"electrode +#
Disadvantages o% DC
- combination AC&DC machines are more e'pensive
- arc blow, or magnetic %ields that disrupt the stability o% the arc,
can be %ormed!
Direct Current $everse Polarity - DC$P
- (lectrode "positive +# )round "negative -#
- most common
- *&+ o% heat at electrode
- ,&+ o% heat at wor
- deep penetration which is good %or thicer material or tight %it
ups where weld penetration is more di%%icult than with a gap
Direct Current Straight Polarity - DCSP
- (lectrode "negative -# )round "positive +#
- least common
- *&+ or heat at wor
- ,&+ o% heat at electrode
- shallow penetration which is good %or thinner material or poor
%it ups or large gaps where weld penetration is not bene%icial
because -burn through. may occur! "melting or blowing through
wor#
AC - Alternating Current
/he current or amperage reverses direction o% %low ,*0 times per
second "cycle o% + to -, and bac to + 10 times per second#
Advantages o% AC
- machines that are AC only are less e'pensive
- magnetic %ields do not disrupt the stability o% the arc "arc blow#
Disadvantages o% AC
- speci%ic AC electrodes o%ten have to be used
- less versatility without options o% maing electrode + or - and
ground + or - %or di%%erent operating characteristics "see DC
polarity#
SMAW Currents and Polarities
DC -
Current or amperage travels in , negative
to positive, where the electrode can be either + or - and the wor
or ground being opposite, - or +!
Advantages
- more are DC compatible more
with regards to characteristics given a choice
between Straight Polarity "electrode # or $everse Polarity
"electrode #
Disadvantages o% DC
- combination AC&DC machines are more
- , or magnetic %ields that disrupt the stability
o% the arc, can be %ormed!
Direct Current $everse Polarity - DC$P
- (lectrode " # )round " #
- common
- o% heat at electrode
- o% heat at wor
- penetration which is good %or material
or %it ups where weld penetration is more di%%icult
than with a gap
Direct Current Straight Polarity - DCSP
- (lectrode " # )round " #
- common
- *&+ o% heat at
- ,&+ o% heat at
- penetration which is good %or material
or %it ups or large where weld
penetration is not bene%icial because - . may
occur! "melting or blowing through wor#
AC - Alternating Current
/he current or amperage direction o% %low ,*0
times per second "cycle o% + to -, and bac to + 10 times per
second#
Advantages o% AC
- machines that are AC only are e'pensive
- magnetic %ields disrupt the stability o% the arc
"arc blow#
Disadvantages o% AC
- speci%ic o%ten have to be used
- without options o% maing electrode + or -
and ground + or - %or di%%erent operating characteristics "see
DC polarity#

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