Dabu Welding · Model buying guide
Dabu MMA-400 Three-Phase Industrial Stick Welder
The Dabu MMA-400 is a 380 V three-phase stick welder for steel structure work, with 20–400 A output and 1.6–6.2 mm electrodes. Dabu lists a 60% duty cycle but leaves out the current and temperature behind it. Get that chart first, then build the quote around your electrode and lead length.
By WeldOrigin Editorial · Sources checked
What the manufacturer publishes
Values as the manufacturer publishes them for this model, with the source for each line.
- Model and catalogue code
- MMA-400; DBA0016 [1]
- Input supply
- Three-phase AC 380 V, ±15% [1]
- Rated input capacity
- 16.6 kVA [1]
- Output range
- 20–400 A [1]
- Duty cycle
- 60% (reference current and ambient temperature not listed) [1]
- Electrode diameter
- 1.6–6.2 mm [1]
- Open-circuit voltage
- 67 V [1]
- Insulation and enclosure
- Class H; IP21S [1]
- Dimensions
- 495 × 285 × 425 mm [1]
- Weight
- Net 10 kg; gross 12 kg [1]
What Dabu lists for the MMA-400
Dabu catalogues the MMA-400 under code DBA0016 and pitches it at steel structure work. It runs on three-phase AC 380 V with a ±15% tolerance and a rated input capacity of 16.6 kVA. Output spans 20–400 A, open-circuit voltage is 67 V, and the electrode range is 1.6–6.2 mm. The case is 495 × 285 × 425 mm, weighs 10 kg net and 12 kg packed, and carries Class H insulation with an IP21S rating.
The product title advertises remote control. The description also mentions overheating protection and a strong arc. The duty cycle appears as a bare 60%. Two Ningbo companies sit behind the brand, and the Dabu factory listing explains how to tell them apart on a quotation.
[1]Does your work call for a 400 A stick source?
Buying guidance
The MMA-400 is a pure stick welding power source with no wire feeder. Its 20–400 A span gives room for large electrodes, but most structural joints run well below the top setting. Start from the joint, the electrode designation and diameter, and the welding position. Then ask Dabu which polarity and current band it recommends for that exact rod. The 1.6–6.2 mm range tells you which sizes the holder takes. Coating type and electrode brand still need a direct answer for your consumable.
The unit itself weighs ten kilograms net. Leads, holder, return clamp and a trolley or case add to what an operator carries between bays. Measure the reach you need on site before you count on portability. If your jobs are mostly light repair on single-phase power, Dabu's single-phase stick welder may suit better.
[1]Pin down what the 60% rating refers to
Buying guidance
The table prints a duty cycle of 60% and stops there. It names no reference current and no ambient temperature, so you cannot tell whether that 60% applies at 400 A or at a lower setting. Ask Dabu for the rating plate or a duty chart for the exact revision you will receive. Compare it with other machines only once both sets of conditions match.
A long fabrication shift and continuous arc time are different loads. Describe your sequence to Dabu: arc time per electrode, changes, fit-up and moving between joints. Ask it to rate the source, holder and leads against that pattern. Overheating protection stops the machine when it runs too hot. Plan your normal working current well inside the rated duty so the cut-out stays a safety net.
[1]Plan the three-phase supply and the lead run together
Buying guidance
Input is three-phase 380 V, with a rated input capacity of 16.6 kVA. That kVA figure describes what the machine draws from the mains. It tells you nothing about welding current, and it differs from the amp figure an electrician needs for a breaker. Ask Dabu for the input current, the recommended protective device, the maximum supply cable run and the earthing instructions. Have your electrical installer check the existing circuit against those answers before you buy.
On steel structures the welding leads often run a long way from the machine. Their cross-section, connector rating, routing and condition all shape how the station performs. Ask Dabu to quote a lead set sized for your reach and your working current. Set a bare machine price against a package that includes leads, holder and return clamp, and the cheaper number may cost more once you add the parts.
[1]Remote control: find out what actually ships
Buying guidance
Remote control features in the product title, yet the specification table names no interface, control unit, cable length or remote functions. If your welder works far from the power source, ask Dabu three things: whether a remote unit comes in the box, which settings it changes, and whether it needs its own cable. Tie the answer to catalogue code DBA0016 and the revision you are buying.
Walk the job and mark where operators need to change current mid-joint. On a large frame or a tall structure, a remote can save many trips back to the machine. Beside a bench, it mostly adds cost. Record the connector type and the spare part number, so a replacement can be ordered later by more than the model name.
[1]Prove it on your own steel joint
Buying guidance
Run the purchasing demonstration with your steel grade, joint preparation, electrode and position. Ask Dabu to record the settings and the consumable used, then inspect the sample against the requirements of your project. A claim of strong arc performance only matters once your structural joint passes your own acceptance test.
Class H insulation and an IP21S enclosure describe how the machine is built. For rain, dust or a hazardous area, ask for the operating manual and the environmental limits Dabu sets, and apply your site welding controls on top. When certificates arrive, check that each one names this model and fits the destination market. A general company certificate covers less than one issued for the unit itself.
[1]Settle these with Dabu before the order
Buying guidance
Ask for one written answer that covers the duty chart with its reference current, ambient temperature and test standard, the input current and breaker size, the remote unit and its cable, and the lead set with ratings. Have the quote list the source, holder, return clamp, leads and any controller as separate priced lines.
The quotation, the rating plate and the manual should all carry MMA-400 and code DBA0016. Agree how the sample weld will be judged, which documents ship with the machine, and who handles service for this model.
Compare the complete configuration
Swipe the table sideways to read the quotation checks.
| Item | Published scope | Before accepting the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Source identity | MMA-400, catalogue code DBA0016. [1] | Match the quote, rating plate and manual to the revision you receive. |
| Output and electrodes | 20–400 A; 1.6–6.2 mm electrodes; 67 V open-circuit. [1] | Get the recommended current band and polarity for your exact rod. |
| Duty cycle | 60%, with no reference current or temperature given. [1] | Obtain the full duty chart before committing to a heavy fabrication schedule. |
| Supply | Three-phase 380 V ±15%; 16.6 kVA rated input. [1] | Ask for input current and breaker size for your installer. |
| Remote control | Advertised in the product title; no details in the table. [1] | Name the controller, its functions and its cable as quote lines. |
| Leads, holder and return clamp | Absent from the published table. [1] | Specify reach and current, then price each item separately. |
A useful brief for the supplier
Fill in each item. Ask the supplier to respond against the same specification so two offers can be compared.
- Joint drawing, steel grade, thickness and welding position.
- Electrode classification, diameter, polarity and target current.
- A request for the duty-cycle reference current, ambient temperature and test standard.
- Your three-phase supply details and the full welding-lead reach.
- Whether you need remote control, and which accessories must be in the carton.
- How the sample will be accepted, which manuals you need, and the service terms for this model.
Buyer questions
Does the MMA-400 run at 400 A for 60% of the time?
The table gives 60% with no reference current or ambient temperature beside it. Ask Dabu for the complete duty statement or a photo of the rating plate for your revision. [1]
Is a remote current control included?
The product title mentions remote control, but the specifications name no controller or cable. Ask Dabu to list the controller model, what it adjusts and the cable length as items on the quote. [1]
Will my electrodes work if they fall within 1.6–6.2 mm?
Diameter is a starting point. Give Dabu the electrode classification, polarity, position and the current you plan to use, and ask for its recommended settings. [1]
What power supply does the MMA-400 need?
Three-phase AC 380 V within ±15%, with a rated input capacity of 16.6 kVA. Ask for the input current so your installer can size the breaker and cable. [1]
Sources
Figures come from the manufacturer's published data, checked on the date shown. Before ordering, ask for a written, model-specific answer on availability, certificates, delivery and warranty.
- Dabu MMA-400 model page · Dabu official catalogue
Manufacturer publication · Checked 2026-10-11
Dabu's page for the MMA-400 with its parameter table and catalogue code. The product title and description cover remote control and protection features.
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