Welder comparison table: duty cycle, input amps and breaker by model
Eleven welders side by side on published rated output, minutes of arc per ten, input amps and required circuit. Every figure sourced and dated.
This is the reference table the rest of the site links to. It holds one thing: what each manufacturer publishes about rated output, arc time and what the machine needs from the wall.
Read across a row to see whether a machine fits your circuit. Read down a column to see which makers publish what you need to plan one. Minutes of arc per ten is the only figure we derive (duty cycle times ten). Everything else is printed as published, and gaps are marked.
120 volt input
Figures for dual voltage machines on their 120 volt side. “110” and “115” are the makers’ own labels for the same household outlet.
| Machine | Rated output | Minutes of arc per ten | Input amps as published | Circuit or breaker as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln WELD-PAK 90i FC (K5255-1) | 90 A at 30 percent | 3 | I1max 21, I1eff 11.5 (spec sheet: 20) | Rated output available on a 20 A branch circuit |
| Hobart Handler 140 | 90 A at 20 percent | 2 | 20 | 20 A individual branch circuit |
| Hobart Handler 210 MVP | 90 A at 20 percent | 2 | 20 | 20 A individual branch circuit |
| Lincoln POWER MIG 210 MP (K3963-1) | 100 A at 40 percent | 4 | 15 (not labeled max or effective) | 20 A fuse or breaker |
| Weldpro MIG210LCD | 120 A at 30 percent | 3 | 35.7 rated (manual), I1eff 24.3 (spec sheet) | Not published |
| YesWelder MCT-520 | 130 A at 60 percent | 6 | I1max 37, I1eff 24 (mig) | Not published |
| YesWelder FLUX-135PRO | 135 A at 60 percent | 6 | I1max 54, I1eff 40 | 50 A time-delay breaker (troubleshooting section) |
| ARCCAPTAIN MIG135 | 60 percent, amperage not published | 6 | 47.6 rated | 50 A branch circuit |
| ARCCAPTAIN MIG205MP | 140 A at 60 percent (tig and stick; mig not published) | 6 | I1max 46, I1eff 20.5 | 50 A branch circuit |
| YesWelder MIG-205DS | 160 A at 60 percent | 6 | I1max 43, I1eff 33.2 | Not published |
| ARCCAPTAIN MIG200 | 60 percent, amperage on graph only | 6 | 44.2 rated | Breaker over 50 A |
The pattern is plain. The four machines at the top are rated inside what a household circuit supplies, about 2,400 watts on 20 amps. The seven below publish input currents of 35 to 54 amps on the same outlet. They run there at reduced settings, and no maker publishes how reduced. Background in welder amp draw and 110v vs 220v welders.
240 volt input
| Machine | Rated output | Minutes of arc per ten | Input amps as published | Circuit or breaker as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart Handler 210 MVP | 150 A at 30 percent | 3 | 24 | See manual OM-260 274, section 5-8 |
| Lincoln POWER MIG 210 MP (K3963-1) | 200 A at 25 percent | 2.5 | 14.7 (not labeled max or effective) | 40 A fuse or breaker |
| Weldpro MIG210LCD | 200 A at 30 percent | 3 | 35.7 rated (manual), I1eff 23 (spec sheet) | Not published |
| YesWelder MCT-520 | 200 A at 60 percent | 6 | I1max 41, I1eff 30 (mig) | Not published |
| ARCCAPTAIN MIG205MP | 205 A at 60 percent (tig and stick; mig not published) | 6 | I1max 35.6, I1eff 15.5 | 50 A branch circuit |
| YesWelder MIG-205DS | 205 A at 60 percent | 6 | I1max 34, I1eff 26.3 | Not published |
| ARCCAPTAIN MIG200 | 60 percent, amperage on graph only | 6 | 30.9 rated | Breaker over 50 A |
Wire gauge for the supply circuit is published by Lincoln (12 AWG copper for the POWER MIG 210 MP on either voltage, per its input table) and by Hobart in its Electrical Service Guide. None of the import brands publishes one. Generator size is not published for any machine here.
How the duty cycle figures compare
The Hobart and Lincoln machines publish 20 to 40 percent. The import brands publish 60. We do not know that these were measured the same way. IEC 60974-1 sets a ten minute window at 40 C (104 F). Lincoln’s 90i FC rating plate cites the standard and ArcCaptain names it. YesWelder and Weldpro give an operating range up to 40 C without linking it to the rating. Until a maker states the basis, treat the comparison between the two groups as unproven. More in duty cycle as minutes of arc.
Sources
All checked 2026-09-19.
- Hobart Handler 140: spec sheet, stock number 500 500 (Northern Tool copy).
- Hobart Handler 210 MVP: owner’s manual OM-260 274 (ManualsLib).
- Lincoln POWER MIG 210 MP: operator’s manual (ManualsLib).
- Lincoln WELD-PAK 90i FC: operator’s manual IMT10639 (Lowe’s copy).
- YesWelder: MIG-205DS PRO manual, MCT520 manual, FLUX-135PRO manual (ManualsLib).
- ARCCAPTAIN: MIG200 manual, MIG205MP manual, MIG135 manual (ManualsLib).
- Weldpro MIG210LCD: spec sheet and manual.
Brand notes: YesWelder and ArcCaptain. Our ranked picks from these machines are in best multiprocess welders and best welder for beginners. The breaker and wire figures are the manufacturers’ statements, printed so you can have an informed conversation. Planning and installing a circuit is a licensed electrician’s job, and we do not publish wiring instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some cells say Not published?
Because the manufacturer does not state that figure in its manual, spec sheet or product page, and we do not estimate. A missing input current or breaker size means you and your electrician have less to plan with, so the gap is worth knowing before you buy.
Why do budget welders show 60 percent duty cycle when Hobart and Lincoln show 20 to 40?
Those are the figures each maker publishes. The international standard, IEC 60974-1, rates duty cycle over ten minutes at 40 C (104 F). Lincoln's rating plate cites it, and ArcCaptain names it in its spec tables. YesWelder and Weldpro do not tie their duty cycle to a temperature or standard in the documents we read, so the two sets of numbers may not be measured the same way.
Which input amps figure should I give my electrician?
All of them, with the manual. I1max is the draw while the arc is on at maximum rated output, and I1eff is the effective draw once duty cycle is counted. Some manuals print a single rated input current without saying which it is. Planning the circuit from those figures is a licensed electrician's job.