Calculators
Welding Cable Size Guide — Power Leads vs MIG Wire
Why welding cable sizing differs from building wire and MIG filler wire — total length, voltage drop symptoms, duty cycle,...
Calculators
The calculators category collects posts built around TestTalkHQ’s free shop math tools—welding settings, electrical sizing, air CFM, material weight, cutting speeds, and job costing. Each article explains when to use the calculator, what inputs matter, and how to sanity-check the result on the floor.
These are companion pieces to the live tools on the site, not duplicate calculators locked in blog form. Start the tool, read the post if you need the why, and apply the numbers to your machine and code environment. Examples include MIG wire feed and voltage guides, TIG amperage for steel and aluminum, voltage drop and wire sizing, compressor CFM for plasma, metal weight and pipe weight, and weld-cost estimates for quoting work.
Posts often link to related reviews when a calculator pairs with a specific machine type. New calculators and walkthroughs land here as they are published; the full index lives on the free calculators hub. Use this category when you want the explanation behind the math, not just the button.
Calculators
Calculators
Equipment Grounding Conductor Calculator — NEC Table 250.122
Size the equipment grounding conductor (EGC) per NEC Table 250.122 from overcurrent device rating. Copper or aluminum — not service...
Calculators
Equipment Grounding Conductor Guide — NEC Table 250.122 & EGC vs GEC
Complete guide to equipment grounding conductors — EGC vs GEC, NEC Table 250.122, upsizing per 250.122(B), parallel runs, and common...
Calculators
Chip Load Calculator — Feed Rate & IPT for Milling
Free chip load calculator — solve feed rate from IPT or back-calculate chip load from programmed feed. Reference table for...
Calculators
Chip Load Guide — Feed Per Tooth, IPT & Feed Rate for Milling
Complete chip load guide for milling — IPT vs SFM, reading chip-load charts, too low vs too high symptoms, rigidity...
Calculators
Circuit Breaker Types Explained — Standard, GFCI, AFCI, and Dual-Function
Standard, GFCI, AFCI, and dual-function breakers explained — what each type does, where NEC requires them, how to identify installed...
Calculators
Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping? Common Causes and Fixes
Breaker keeps tripping? Overload vs short circuit vs ground fault — step-by-step troubleshooting, when wiring is undersized, and when to...
Calculators
Grounding vs. Bonding — What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Grounding connects the system to earth; bonding connects metal parts together. Why both are required, common misconceptions, and how this...
Calculators
How to Read an AIC Rating on a Breaker or Panel Label
What AIC means, where to find it on breakers and panels, why it must exceed available fault current, and when...
Calculators
Short Circuit / Fault Current Calculator — Available Fault & AIC Check
Free short circuit current calculator — point-to-point f-factor method from transformer kVA, %Z, and feeder length. Compare available fault current...