Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Karnage Welder?
The Karnage Welder is a self contained, portable, battery operated welder. It has a 24 volt internal battery that will weld about ~60" inches of bead up to ~15 minutes of trigger time, depending on the thickness of the material being welded, wire thickness, wire speed or distance from material.
Output amperage is approximately 100–125 amps with .030 wire, depending on wire speed.
Using.035 wire, you will see 125–150 amps, depending on wire speed.
The wire feed speed is adjustable, voltage output is not.
It holds a standard 1 or 2 lb spool of flux core wire, there are no accommodations for gas.
OPTIONAL Karnage Kables connect to external batteries should the internal battery drain before you have completed the repair or if you need to make multiple repairs.
Every Karnage Welder now comes standard with a NOCO Genius5 5A 120V smart charger with the X-Connect male cigarette lighter plug with an AGM battery mode to maximize the life of your batteries.
We also carry a small 200W inverter which allows you to use your NOCO Genius5 charger in your vehicle or RV etc.
The dimensions of the case are approximately 16" x 12"x 7".
Approximate weight of the complete unit is 44 lbs, or about as much as 1 car battery.
What is the Duty Cycle of a Karnage Welder?
A Karnage Welder has a duty cycle of 100% for up to 15 minutes, or until the internal batteries are depleted.
How Do I Charge a Karnage Welder?
Every Karnage Welder comes with a Noco Genius5 charger with cigarette lighter adapter cord. We also offer a 200W inverter to use your NOCO charger on the go.
How Long Does It Take to Charge?
Charging a Karnage Welder from dead or to the point it won't give you good penetration will take 3-4 hours on the NOCO Genius5 charger. Any 12V charger that supports AGM batteries can be used in a pinch. No proprietary charger required.
What if I Still Need to Weld After the Batteries Are Drained?
Oh boy, you really messed up, fortunately you're in luck! The Karnage Welder has a port to connect external 12V batteries using the OPTIONAL Karnage Kables!
What is the Warranty?
Karnage Welders come with a 1-year warranty against defects in parts or workmanship of the assembly process. This does not cover improper charging or any damages you caused to the welder.
I Have a Quick Disconnect on My Rig, Can I Use That to Operate the Welder Directly?
Not unless your rig is running a 24V electrical system. Most typical vehicles run only a 12V electrical system.
Can I Charge My Karnage Welder in My RV via 12V?
Yes, by using our optional 200W inverter you can run your NOCO Genius5 charger off of a 12V electrical source.
If I'm Welding on My Rig Should I Disconnect My Battery?
Yes, sensitive electronics in vehicles these days may or may not like welding while connected and can damage your computer or other devices. Best practice is to just always disconnect for safety.
Always connect the ground as close to the welding location as you can to further prevent potential issues. Electricity wants to follow the least resistive path to the ground so for example DON'T ground to the frame if you welding on something like your suspension. Bushing and other suspension parts can act as isolators which could turn that nice steel braided brake line into the new current path and cause unwanted damage.
My Welder Isn't Charging Fully?
First, make sure the 3 Position Function switch is in the down or "Internal Battery Charge" position. Next, make sure neither of the breakers are tripped. Verify your NOCO Genius5 charger is set to the AGM mode and goes through a full charge cycle. Charge cycle is complete when only the GREEN light is pulsing.
Can my Karnage Welder be used as a power pack?
Yes. Because the Karnager Welder uses a standard 12V cigarette lighter style charge port, when switched to the INTERNAL BATTERY CHARGE position, a large array of accessories can be attached to the welder and powered. The dual internal 12V batteries will give you 44AH of output. Example uses are: cell phone charger, cordless power tool battery chargers, Starlink, small inverters, GMG portable smoker.... just to name a few. The possibilities are endless! NOTE! Limit the 12V draw to 10A and be mindful not to discharge your internal batteries too low or damage can occur.
What do I do when I need new batteries?
So you're batteries have reached the end of their useful life and your not getting as long a weld time as you did when it was new?
We use common sized, off the shelf batteries. We prefer the Mighty Max brand because they've proven their reliability and logevity, but any 12V 22AH battery will do. We have the batteries listed on our website with thier specs. You have many options for battery replacement:
- Purchase from Karnage Welder and swap yourself. We charge and load test every battery before it ships and we prepare the batteries for install.
- Purchase from any vendor and swap yourself
- Use our refurb program and get your Karnage Welder upgraded at the same time. Not only do we swap the batteries, we upgrade any internals that are weak, damaged or possibly out of date with our latest models.
- Come see us at an event. We'll do a battery swap on the spot for you. You just purchase the batteries we'll take care of the rest. Typically just give us a heads up before an event and we'll make sure we have enough spare batteries with us.
Troubleshooting
Problem: The digital voltmeter does not display voltage
- The voltmeter will only display voltage when the function switch is in the "Internal Battery Weld" position.
- If the switch is in the correct position, check the breakers located next to the external battery port.
Problem: When I press the trigger the motor runs, but wire does not feed
- Check the tension of the spool brake, it may be too tight.
- Check the tension of the feed assembly rollers, it may not be tight enough.
- Make sure the wire is free at the tip, occasionally an arc will weld the wire to the tip.
- Flux core wire is hollow and is somewhat fragile. It is possible to pinch the wire causing failure to feed properly.
- Make sure the torch lead doesn't have any tight turns or kinks. Best if the lead doesn't make any turns with a radius or less then 8" or 10".
