welder/generator/electrical question
02-03-2004, 11:29 PM
#1
welder/generator/electrical question
Hi all.
I know there are a few of you on this site who have a good deal of elctrical knowledge and know how.
I am by NO means an electrician
I have a 10 hp generator, 6250 watts max output, rated for 5000 continuous.
I'm wondering if I can run a 220 mig welder off this geneartor?? especially for emergency off site equipment repair
Generator is equipped with 220 outlet.
can't seem to find required input power on welder.
What about a regular old arc welder?? ( I think migs take less power though)
I imagine a big load like that would be relatively hard on the generator, especially since it is not study, ie. welding..... not welding........ spikes in amperage draw etc.
But.... it's not like I'd be doing it all day every day.
I'm not that worried about the generator.
Just wondering if it's possible.
Thank you.
I know there are a few of you on this site who have a good deal of elctrical knowledge and know how.
I am by NO means an electrician
I have a 10 hp generator, 6250 watts max output, rated for 5000 continuous.
I'm wondering if I can run a 220 mig welder off this geneartor?? especially for emergency off site equipment repair
Generator is equipped with 220 outlet.
can't seem to find required input power on welder.
What about a regular old arc welder?? ( I think migs take less power though)
I imagine a big load like that would be relatively hard on the generator, especially since it is not study, ie. welding..... not welding........ spikes in amperage draw etc.
But.... it's not like I'd be doing it all day every day.
I'm not that worried about the generator.
Just wondering if it's possible.
Thank you.
02-04-2004, 01:30 AM
#2
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Watts = volts x amps
Therefore: 5000 W divided by 220 V = 22.7 amps
Depending on how many amps your welder puts out, your machine could require as much as 60 amps input at maximum output power.
You can probably weld 1/4" steel with it, but nothing thicker. If your generator has a circuit breaker, or overload protection you can try welding thicker materials to see if it'll work. Don't try anything thicker than 1/4" it if there's no overload protection or you'll fry the generator.
Therefore: 5000 W divided by 220 V = 22.7 amps
Depending on how many amps your welder puts out, your machine could require as much as 60 amps input at maximum output power.
You can probably weld 1/4" steel with it, but nothing thicker. If your generator has a circuit breaker, or overload protection you can try welding thicker materials to see if it'll work. Don't try anything thicker than 1/4" it if there's no overload protection or you'll fry the generator.
02-04-2004, 08:51 PM
#3
Thanks Welder 27. 
I know the Amps x Volts = watts
but I haven't been able to find required input power on Welder.
(small lincoln, 220, with gas solenoid)
Generator is circuit protected (with a breaker) so I guess I'll just have to try it and give it a whirl.
1/4" eh?? better than nothing I guess.
Besides, Generator is still under Warranty.
I know the Amps x Volts = watts
but I haven't been able to find required input power on Welder.
(small lincoln, 220, with gas solenoid)
Generator is circuit protected (with a breaker) so I guess I'll just have to try it and give it a whirl.
1/4" eh?? better than nothing I guess.
Besides, Generator is still under Warranty.
02-05-2004, 04:55 AM
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Just a little bit of trivia for you guys, so that you can astound your co-workers with your knowledge. The term MIG in welding technology stands for "metal inert gas". Everyone uses this term (MIG) today and everyone will pretty much know what you are saying.......BUT.......The true definition of what you are calling MIG should really be GMAW, or gas metal arc welding...
MIG was originally developed when the shielding gasses used were truly "Inert".
With the combinbation gasses that are used today, Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide, most people who use wire feed welders use a shielding gas combination of what is called C-25, or 75% Argon and 25% CO2. Since CO2 is not "INERT"... the real term that should be used to describe these welders is G.M.A.W.
PS. Don't know what your duty cycle or Amp draw is on your welder, but you might get it to work . The problem I would think with a generator is that they wouldn't allow you to spike it very often.....Once you got going.......maybe? Give it a a shot. 1/4" steel is pretty THICK in the auto industry.
I don't know of too many items that are 1/4 thick steel on our trucks, except maybe the block on our CTD.
MIG was originally developed when the shielding gasses used were truly "Inert".
With the combinbation gasses that are used today, Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide, most people who use wire feed welders use a shielding gas combination of what is called C-25, or 75% Argon and 25% CO2. Since CO2 is not "INERT"... the real term that should be used to describe these welders is G.M.A.W.
PS. Don't know what your duty cycle or Amp draw is on your welder, but you might get it to work
. The problem I would think with a generator is that they wouldn't allow you to spike it very often.....Once you got going.......maybe? Give it a a shot. 1/4" steel is pretty THICK in the auto industry.I don't know of too many items that are 1/4 thick steel on our trucks, except maybe the block on our CTD.
02-05-2004, 07:11 AM
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Once welded the front end back on to a POS Cavalier for a friend with a little flux-core MIG running on a (and this is no lie) a 1500W Generac generator. Hey, it was the best we could do back then
The big problem with running a MIG (and especially a stick) off of a small generator is that the starting arc loads down the generator, causing it to bog, drop the arc, then reacquire the arc when the genset revs back up under the load and the voltage comes back up. It does not make for pretty welds and probably makes the transformer in the welder very unhappy with the changing magentic flux that results from all of the voltage fluctuations.
YMMV.
The big problem with running a MIG (and especially a stick) off of a small generator is that the starting arc loads down the generator, causing it to bog, drop the arc, then reacquire the arc when the genset revs back up under the load and the voltage comes back up. It does not make for pretty welds and probably makes the transformer in the welder very unhappy with the changing magentic flux that results from all of the voltage fluctuations.
YMMV.
02-05-2004, 08:49 PM
#7
Yeah, I hear you. I kinda had the same thought as well.
But I think I can live with it if it's only every now and then, Generator is supposed to have a maximum surge of 6250 W.
But I think I can live with it if it's only every now and then, Generator is supposed to have a maximum surge of 6250 W.
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02-06-2004, 02:38 PM
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Originally posted by magnum
Just a little bit of trivia for you guys, so that you can astound your co-workers with your knowledge. The term MIG in welding technology stands for "metal inert gas". Everyone uses this term (MIG) today and everyone will pretty much know what you are saying.......BUT.......The true definition of what you are calling MIG should really be GMAW, or gas metal arc welding...
MIG was originally developed when the shielding gasses used were truly "Inert".
With the combinbation gasses that are used today, Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide, most people who use wire feed welders use a shielding gas combination of what is called C-25, or 75% Argon and 25% CO2. Since CO2 is not "INERT"... the real term that should be used to describe these welders is G.M.A.W.
PS. Don't know what your duty cycle or Amp draw is on your welder, but you might get it to work . The problem I would think with a generator is that they wouldn't allow you to spike it very often.....Once you got going.......maybe? Give it a a shot. 1/4" steel is pretty THICK in the auto industry.
I don't know of too many items that are 1/4 thick steel on our trucks, except maybe the block on our CTD.
Just a little bit of trivia for you guys, so that you can astound your co-workers with your knowledge. The term MIG in welding technology stands for "metal inert gas". Everyone uses this term (MIG) today and everyone will pretty much know what you are saying.......BUT.......The true definition of what you are calling MIG should really be GMAW, or gas metal arc welding...
MIG was originally developed when the shielding gasses used were truly "Inert".
With the combinbation gasses that are used today, Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide, most people who use wire feed welders use a shielding gas combination of what is called C-25, or 75% Argon and 25% CO2. Since CO2 is not "INERT"... the real term that should be used to describe these welders is G.M.A.W.
PS. Don't know what your duty cycle or Amp draw is on your welder, but you might get it to work
. The problem I would think with a generator is that they wouldn't allow you to spike it very often.....Once you got going.......maybe? Give it a a shot. 1/4" steel is pretty THICK in the auto industry.I don't know of too many items that are 1/4 thick steel on our trucks, except maybe the block on our CTD.
-Steve
02-07-2004, 12:25 AM
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GMAW, FCAW-S, FCAW-G, GTAW, SMAW, SAW, PAW, ESW, etc. But as long as there are old timers out there who refuse to change their ways, there will always be MIG, Dual Shield, Innershield, TIG, stick, etc. 
Is your welder a Lincoln 175? or Miller? And is it the welder that weighs 50 lbs? If so, I can find out what the max input amps is. I'm sure the max is more than 22 amps though...probably something like 40-50 amps.
Is your welder a Lincoln 175? or Miller? And is it the welder that weighs 50 lbs? If so, I can find out what the max input amps is. I'm sure the max is more than 22 amps though...probably something like 40-50 amps.
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