Just bought an inverter

[super noob]

Saw it on ebay as it popped up literally 15 minutes ago and about a two and a half hour drive from me, put in an offer and I can now run 3 phase equipment at home



Only cost £125 too so with the amount of saving you make on 3phase equipment it should kind of pay for itself that and I've got back orders for off road equipment to build


Had a search on here and others are using the same inverter too so should serve me well, its all working too just waiting for the seller to get back to me with a pick up address now

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

What do you plan to run off it ?

 

[super noob]

Big tig welder, big mig and a medium lathe not all at the same time obviously

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

What size of inverter is it, will bead to be a monster run a welding plant!

 

[shenion]

Welder will probably fry an inverter. They are designed for motors, not welders.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh that was my thoughts too, good for machine tools, no good for welding plants

 

[super noob]

Its an 8bhp static converter according to the ad, the guys been using it to power a 3phase mig in his workshop for the last 5 years and said he's happy to show it powering the welder so think I'm gonna make sure, plug in his mig and blast some 7mm plate with it

 

[shenion]

A static converter is not an inverter and will likely require equipment set to run 220V.

 

[super noob]

Hmmm well then I'm not too sure what I've got, guess the guy didn't know either but its been powering a welder and a vehicle ramp at 415v either way the tig I'm looking at is a 220v one and the lathe will hopefully run off the same too

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Id be warey of it tbh, like shenion says a static converter is not an inverter, a static phase converter creates artificial extra phases to get a motor spining !

 

[super noob]

Well this is the item in question

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171019523650?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648



May back out if it wont power a welder correctly like he's advertised it to!

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

See the little lable inside, it says 110v or 220v, (im sure the sparks on here will corect me if im wrong) will you get 440 between the phases ?

 

[super noob]

Hmmm so does this mean it will or wont power a big three phase machine then I was hoping to be able to buy a nice big tig and run it off that instead of having to run it off standard 230 house plug

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I dont think so, im not a spark tho, eaven if you could run from it you would need a realy heave 230 suply around the 60A mark

 

[super noob]

I can get a good 32 easily as we have an industrial washing machine, drier, fridge etc all hooked up.

No idea what the deep fat fryer draws, suppose I could always get the electrician to wire in a 60A socket off the main breaker that I could use the welder off if I cant use that.

Wonder how he's running his current welder off it though ? He also offered in the ad to show it running, so it must work somehow ?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Hmm, not sure best to ask the sparks on here, i just thought it was a grey area

 

[super noob]

Which section should I post in for them ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

I don't think you're quite understanding power requirements for a welder.
The welder he's been running off that converter will be 230V 3 phase.
If you're looking to buy a big tig then it will most likely be single phase anyway, albeit with a big input current requirement.

 

[super noob]

Yeah the idea was to up the voltage for the tig so it would draw less current but if thats not needed then do you think that would be powerful enough to drive a good sized lathe or miller ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

That one won't convert 230v to 415 so no use for a big welder but yes, I'm pretty sure it will run 3 phase 230V machines including lathes and mills, depending on their input current requirements of course.
Regarding where to post, just leave it here, I'm sure one of our many resident sparkys will be along to clarify things.