Advantage of 3ph mig over single.

[MonsterLandrover]

Evening all. I thinking of selling my 3ph esab for a single phase machine. But what I am wondering is, I does a 3ph machine give a better weld than a single ph?

I know that you can run much higher amps on a 3phase and it draws less current, andbut tthat's not really an email issue as I have 32amp outlets. Just thought it would be a good idea if I wanted to use it elsewhere other than where I have 3 phase of supply.

 

[dannyp]

3ph is all round better at everything,

welders are generaly up to industrial use, they are better built and weld smoother with much better duity cycel

 

[zzr1200]

The main problem is finding someone who has 3 phase to sell it too, its generally only businesses that have access to 3 phase power.

 

[Pete.]

If you have 3-phase - get 3-phase and enjoy better quality equipment for cheaper prices. There's more of a market for single phase stuff so you pay more.

If you have no 3-phase the question is moot.

 

[Ed.]

I also agree with what other have said, Whilst there are some good single phase machines about they are usually at the high end price point, but for me, 3 phs is the only way to go if possible.

Cheers

Ed.

 

[madkayaker]

If you have 3ph use 3ph. Yes it does limit the out of workshop use but as there built for industrial work there very well built. 3ph machines have a limited resale value as the market is limited. I have a 300amp miller with separate wire feed unit and love it can weld from 8 amps to 300amp!

 

[candor]

If you have 3ph use 3ph. Yes it does limit the out of workshop use but as there built for industrial work there very well built. 3ph machines have a limited resale value as the market is limited. I have a 300amp miller with separate wire feed unit and love it can weld from 8 amps to 300amp!

How much are you talking for something like that?

 

[madkayaker]

I got it second hand for less than a decent size Clarke welder

 

[candor]

I got it second hand for less than a decent size Clarke welder

Good value

 

[madkayaker]

In total fairness I did get it off a lad in part payment for some sparky work as it was to small for him but have seen many at auctions etc fetch same kind of money.

 

[normspanners]

In my experience I find that a 3ph machine gives a smoother weld due to the higher frequency created by the number of pulses generated by the 3ph tranny. At one workshop recently they had a 3ph and single ph machine of same make, but the single phase was used for 'mobile use' because there where more free 32amp 1ph sockets around the factory/yard when used for thinner work ie car bodies the 3ph machine was easily the best even though it had nearly twice the max power of the 1ph and also the reduced amount of spatter from the 3ph was noticeable up to 200amps but when they went into spray the diff was negligable.

 

[madkayaker]

i don't think it will be down to the cycles going through the transformers as a properly designed mig will have surficent capacitance to smooth the DC from the rectifier

 

[normspanners]

It is the output freq that is different and not all migs have caps

 

[madkayaker]

Any decent mig will have capacitors. I work on some kit at work that uses a leading and lagging 3ph 11kv transformer to give smother AC as for the power levels there is no capacitors that can do the job. So the output will be smother from a 3ph transformer than a single but as I've said any decent mig will have capacitors inductance etc so shouldn't be noticeably smother

 

[normspanners]

Ok agreed a decent 1ph mig should have a large cap bank.
All I can go on is my experience and this was brought home by the above example of two migs from the same manufacturer ( name which I cant remember but they were a well known unit ), and from memory neither machine had a big cap bank. But there was a difference at lower settings.
I have added a little excerpt from 'Weldability' to possible explain my findings