Thank You for Choosing SSC Products
Thank you for choosing SSC products. We have put together a list of frequently-asked questions to help assist you in choosing a foot switch or TIG foot control. While we aren’t at your location and therefore cannot physically review your application, we can answer basic questions about our foot switches and how they are typically used. Consult a certified electrician if you have any questions to determine the amperage, voltage, and other requirements for your application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Why choose SSC?
Our focus is on providing you with first-rate customer service and top-level design and manufacturing right here in the United States. We source everything we can domestically and are proud to be a "Made in USA" company. We also love to provide our customers with awesome customer service.
2) I don’t know anything about foot switches. Where do I start?
Check out our foot switch selection guide, which will cover some of the basics. And, feel free to give us a call if you need more help.
3) What do these terms mean – amperage rating, normally open, momentary or maintained action, etc?
You can review the basic terms by looking at our glossary page. Each application may be specific, so if you’re not sure, consult an electrician for installation assistance and product selection.
4) Can I hook a potentiometer foot pedal directly to my motor?
No. A motor needs a variable-speed motor control (also called a VRD or variable resistance drive), which is a separate device, to control its speed. The potentiometer foot pedal just provides a signal to the drive to tell it how to set the speed (depending on how far your foot is pressed down on the pedal). The motor controller should have a potentiometer input which will specify a resistance value (ohms) and power (watts). So, for example, it may have been designed to work with a 1000-ohm potentiometer, and you will have to use a 1k ohm pot value, or it may ask for a range like 2k to 10k, where you can then choose a 5k or 10k. But simply increasing the pot value will not make it go faster or slower – in fact, it may not work at all, or it may even damage the circuit. So it's important to use a pot that meets the requirements of your system.
5) How do I wire my foot switch?
See our Foot Switch Selection Guide under the "Foot Switch Wiring and Installation" section. Consult an electrician if you are unsure.
6) I have a welder that doesn't show up on your TIG Welding Foot Pedals Page. Can you make one for it?
It depends on the welder and availability of the components required. We would need the complete wiring diagram and exact specification for the components (potentiometer, plug, etc.) just to check it out. This is generally not possible for uncommon foreign welders. See our Cross-Reference Guide for a list of models that we can make, as well as those we cannot make (at the bottom of the page).
