The generator was Honda 5.5 KVA, the welder was set at 95 amps with 2.5 rod !
Quick question for Matt I'm looking at investing in a kabota engined super silent Genset , would it be safe to run the lorch 252 from it ? And could I guard against power spikes ,surges with some sort of circuit breaker between generator and welder ??
Matt do you have anymore Lorch dealers in the north of England / west of Scotland ?? And yes let's hope I get the service anyone would expect from a new machine !
I just looked it up, EWM Pico 162, reccomended minimum generator 8.6Kva. That's a similar spec machine to your Lorch, and it's hardly a cheap cheerful set.
The genny you have is already too small, and it's more than likely what killed your inverter in the first place, you were lucky to get a machine repaired under warranty under those circumstances, don't push your luck by trying to run a machine twice as powerful off the same undersized generator.
If you need smooth power then you need a genset with an electronic govenor and AVR, a 15kva Lister or similar, don't bother with the cheap import generators they aren't built for this service.
It's simpler and cheaper to buy a small petrol welder than it is to buy a small inverter and a big generator.
A HGI EW200 with a Honda GX390 engine and a 200 amp DC welding output with 2.2kw 110 and 4.4kw of 230 volt auxiliary for tools etc retails for about £1,300 with a decent set of leads.
It's a no brainer for site welding if mains power isn't available.
The inverter as run fine on the generator welding stainless steel in a culvert , with mild steel pipe work and as never been above 100 amps , the two GenSet's are 300 amp and the other is 400 amp not decided which yet ! Will check Kvh of generator next week ! Ps both GenSet's have MMA , but the 3phase is what I'm after !
It doesn't matter that it hasn't been over 100 amps. That's still more than 2/3 full output on a unsuitable generator.
How many Kva does the Genset have?
Look out for a CC/CV diesel welder, a Lincoln Ranger 305 or similar, you can stick and TIG off it and if you want you can run a MIG suitcase feeder and get a really nice result.
Before a used the welder with the generator I checked the manual it need to be at least 2000 watts , the gen is 5500 , the manual says 4.9 KVA not another Dealer looking for excuses !!! Lol
Post up the manual, I want to see this.
And I was quoting the EWM manual by the way.
You think what you like, but there's a reason the hire industry uses the mains kva draw and double it for a genny as a rule of thumb. It's not something we just make up for the sake of it.
Thanks for that what sort of money is in the Lincoln ranger , and if the kabota Genset as MMA would that be able to DC tig ?? Ps glad this came up before I shelled out on the Genset any help or advice would be much welcomed !
2000 watts at 230 v is 8.6 amps, no way a 150 amp inverter will draw that little.
I think you need to sit down and read the manual again.
What you can get away with on mains power and what you can safely do on a generator are two very different things.
I'm going to bow out of this little debate now though as you aren't prepared to listen to reason, despite several highly experienced members telling you your generator is too small you think it's just dealers trying to talk their way out of doing right by you under warranty.
I wouldn't no how to post it ! I tried putting pics up of a 4 way stainless steel reducer I fabricated but would post !
But here's what it says on page 28 under 16 Technical Data .
Power consumption S1 (maximum current) KVA 4.9 .
And on another page it says .
Do not use power generators with less than 2000 W single phase .
So how was the generator to small ???
ps jim Davey could you please tell me were and when I didn't listen to reason in the above posts ?? I asked you for your professional opinion , and you through your teddy out the pram ! But thanks for your input all taken on board !