This article will explain the what and why for Lotos machines which you will need a pigtail adapter for.

Hello Welders and Plasma Cutter Enthusiasts!

In our eBay buying guide “ Basics of DIY Welding” we explained some of the basic terminology and types of welding by explaining the different kinds of welding types you can use for your projects. Now we hope to de-mystify the how to and the why you would need a Pigtail converter plug, if you needed one in the first place. For those of you who already have your 220V electrical plug in your shop then you should be able to plug your Lotos machine into the outlet and operate it after installation without the pigtail converter being required.

If this is the case that you have your own 220V electrical outlet in your shop/ garage/ work site, then we advise that you make sure that your plug prongs are lined up with the electrical current prong type which is specified on the Lotos machine’s plug, we will go into detail about how to do that towards the end of this article. If you choose to set up the 220V electrical plug without the Pigtail adapter, we recommend that you have some previous experience working with electrical devices, outlets in general if you choose to set up the 220V plug yourself.

If you purchase a Pigtail converter plug then the set-up of the electrical outlet is not required, you will be able to plug the machine’s plug directly into the Pigtail converter and it will do all of the work for you by default. The Pigtail converter will allow you to plug into your 110V wall socket. Using the Pigtail converter plug is most desirable for those of you who are starting out with welding/ plasma cutting for the first time and is also necessary if you do not have a 220V electrical plug installed at your shop/ garage/ work site location. Either the PT01 or PT02 converter plug will allow you to use any 110V wall socket with your Lotos machine.

The main difference between the PT01 and PT02 plugs is that they are compatible with different kinds of Lotos Technology machines, be sure to check which machines the plugs are compatible with to find the right plug you need for your machine model type. There is an auto sensor inside of all Lotos Technology machines which will automatically convert the 220V plug of the machine to 110V wall socket when you use the Pigtail converter plug. Regardless if you use the Pigtail converter or not, the machine will auto sense and convert all electricity for you as long as it is plugged in and installed properly.

If you are trying to install your machine without using a Pigtail converter plug PT01 or PT02 (using the machine's original electrical plug to your wall socket directly) then you will need to match the prongs of the electrical plug which comes on the machine with your 220V wall socket plug .

To check if your plug is connected to the wall socket electricity correctly, you will need to match the machine's electrical prongs on the original electrical plug of your machine according to the manufacturer specifications.

The electrical specifications that come with the plug on the machine are as follows:

• The YGA-018 prong is the earth “ground” wire.
• The other two are both "Hot" wires
• There is no Neutral wire needed for the machine. 

For the wiring of the electrical outlet in your home garage/ shop you will need to establish which female prong connection goes with which prong type of the Lotos plug so that the electrical attachments and electricity work correctly. You will need to match the prong of the electrical outlet of the machine with the right prong type.

Find which part of your 220V electrical outlet is the ground then match the YGA-018 prong needs to go with the ground connection. Once you have matched the YGA-018 earth wire prong with the ground connection then make sure that the live wire prong 30A 250V goes with the live female electrical outlet then the neutral line will be matched correctly once you have fit the live wire prong and the earth wire prong correctly. Check whether the prongs of the plug are connected securely with your wall socket. If the plug is fitting correctly and you were able to match the prong type on the electrical plug of the machine with your 220V wall socket then you can operate the machine after this is set up and so are all the other components necessary for machine operation (torch installation, air/gas connection if needed, ground clamp, etc.). Be sure to check that all parts are set up correctly by referring to your manual and/or to official Lotos YouTube installation videos for your machine before plugging it in to operate.

If the plug does not fit to your wall socket tightly then we suggest that you have an electrician check your wall socket to make sure that it is installed properly. Make sure that the ground cable is correctly connected as well. If you have tested this already and have matched the right prongs with the right part of your 220V female wall electrical outlet, then we suggest that you purchase a pigtail adapter PT01 since this will most likely resolve the issue for you and allow you to use any 110V wall socket instead of trying to hook up directly to a 220V wall socket.

When using an extension cord you will need a Pigtail converter plug in order to operate your machine. The standard 220V Lotos plug will not fit into an extension cord without the Pigtail converter plug. If you require an extension cord for your work because of the size of work space or outside work location, then we highly suggest that you buy a Pigtail adapter for your machine so that the plug which comes on your Lotos machine will work properly while you are out on the field or when you need extended cord length in your workshop.

Having a Pigtail converter is a great back up in case you do not have a 220V outlet installed where you need to work or in case you are having difficulties with setting up 220V electrical for your machine. If you need to take the hassle out and simplify your set up of your Lotos machine, then we highly suggest that you get a Pigtail adapter for this purpose.

What's the difference between Lotos Technology's PT01 and PT02 Pigtail Adapter plugs?

Lotos PT01 Pigtail Adapter.

This pigtail adapter allows the Lotos user to use 110V output from the electric outlet. It includes a 30A, 250V twist-lock female connector, and a 110V 3-pin straight-blade male plug.

It is applicable for Lotos plasma cutters: LT5000D, LTP5000D and multi-functional combo machines CT520D and LTPDC2000D.The PT01 Pigtail adapter converts 220V-110V using a 30amp. It includes a 250V straight-blade female connector and a 110V 3-pin straight-blade male plug. It is applicable for Lotos cutters: LT5000D, LTP5000D and multi-functional combo machines CT520D and LTPDC2000D.

The PT01 Pigtail Adapter converts 220V-110V using a 30amp. The size of the plug is smaller.