Van generator to power welder?

[F.J.]

Morning all,

I am picking up a van in two weeks off a friend of mine which has a generator fitted as though it was formly used by a Utilities company at some point. He hasn't used it since buying the van although says it worked when he bought it.

Just having a quick look it states on the cover that it is powered to 6kva, and has three 110v sockets, one being 32 amp, the other two 16amp. Would the generator power a mig welder and if so what size amperage?

I know it has been covered many times but I cannot find anything relating to van generators.

I had the intention of buying a genny welder with a suitcase feeder but if I can use the genny in the van with a duel voltage welder then that saves some money for other tools I need.

Thanks

 

[Jim Davey]

If it was 6 kva 240 you would have half a chance, forget it if it's 110.

 

[Kent]

sounds useful for tools but a bit low for welding at 6 kva 110v. Do you not own the "miller?" unit you showed us in the staircase thread? Will this not take a wire feeder?

 

[F.J.]

If it was 6 kva 240 you would have half a chance, forget it if it's 110.

Thanks for the reply. I don't suppose theres a way of adding 240v to it is there? Im not to clever with electrics

 

[Bill Edwards]

If it was 240v you'd only be looking at a 150a welder, 180 at a push.
Welders need big generators, usually much bigger than manufacturers claim.

 

[F.J.]

sounds useful for tools but a bit low for welding at 6 kva 110v. Do you not own the "miller?" unit you showed us in the staircase thread? Will this not take a wire feeder?

Morning Kent,

Its a Lincoln Ranger already fitted with a wire feeder in the pics of the staircase and yes I do own it but im setting up a second van as I hope to be taking someone else on soon but want to get all the gear bought and set up first

 

[F.J.]

If it was 240v you'd only be looking at a 150a welder, 180 at a push.
Welders need big generators, usually much bigger than manufacturers claim.

I have been looking at the Kemppi Minarc Mig 170 and Evo 200 units. The rated power of the 170 at 35% max is only 4.8kva and the Evo 200 6.2kva. Just ruled out on the 200 but was hopeful with the 170 at least but there 240v units only!!!

 

[Bill Edwards]

Ah, but you tend to need more than they state.

I work on a minimum of 1.5x the 'required' figure, if I was buying a generator to run a welder I'd probably go for double to be sure - and diesel, they cope better with the surge.

 

[F.J.]

Could be just as well that I rip it out then if I need a separate genny to power a wire feeder as that would also have 240v and 110v outlets. I'll keep the pto compressor though I can imagine that coming in handy

 

[Jim Davey]

Buy another Ranger, but you missed the promotion they were running on new ones.

 

[F.J.]

I have my

Buy another Ranger, but you missed the promotion they were running on new ones.

I have my eye on one and may try and make an offer next week. Just thought I would find out about the built in genny in the van before throwing £3.5k at a refurbed one

 

[rory1]

A friend ofine has an ex utility lwb transit with a compressor and generator on the pto, when i put it over the pit I was amazed at the size and weight of both the comp and generator! It must be a substantial portion of the wieght the van can take

 

[F.J.]

If that's the case then I may rip it all out as the ranger weighs in at 318kg too!! Although the one I'm looking at comes with a trailer but then that restricts my speed on motorways

 

[the snooper]

If it was 240v you'd only be looking at a 150a welder, 180 at a push.
Welders need big generators, usually much bigger than manufacturers claim.

And then only on the lower settings

 

[Richard.]

The problem you have is if you under estimate the kva needed from the gen set you risk harm on your welder. I pay no attention to the manufactures recommendation other than to tell me if it's gen friendly or not. At 170 amps I work out you need a gen set twice the size of the 4.8 recommendation. At 240 v

 

[Jim Davey]

At least you know the Ranger will work, it's got enough output to run a small 3 phase plasma and compressor too if you get really keen on the site stuff. And the Kubota engines last forever. Just keep an eye on the brushes on the genny.

 

[octo0072000]

If that's the case then I may rip it all out as the ranger weighs in at 318kg too!! Although the one I'm looking at comes with a trailer but then that restricts my speed on motorways

LWB transit 3.500 tons plus trailer business use doesn't this come under tachograph laws ??

 

[Kent]

If that's the case then I may rip it all out as the ranger weighs in at 318kg too!! Although the one I'm looking at comes with a trailer but then that restricts my speed on motorways

Heck, you often can't get to 50mph anyhow on the m60 anyhow for traffic

 

[Kent]

Morning Kent,

Its a Lincoln Ranger already fitted with a wire feeder in the pics of the staircase and yes I do own it but im setting up a second van as I hope to be taking someone else on soon but want to get all the gear bought and set up first

Things going well then glad to hear it

 

[F.J.]

At least you know the Ranger will work, it's got enough output to run a small 3 phase plasma and compressor too if you get really keen on the site stuff. And the Kubota engines last forever. Just keep an eye on the brushes on the genny.

At least you know the Ranger will work, it's got enough output to run a small 3 phase plasma and compressor too if you get really keen on the site stuff. And the Kubota engines last forever. Just keep an eye on the brushes on the genny.

Lincoln state that the ranger is capable of gouging but do you know what size compressor would be needed for gouging and would the ranger run it or would I need a seperate unit? I'd have to check what cfm the pto compressor kicks out as that may do the job