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Wendelspanswick
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No!
Wendelspanswick
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I will expand on my answer above, I think you would need a minimum of 5kw, preferably 6-7kw.
25V x 180A = 4500W
So 4500W as a minimum but 150% of the maximum is recommended so:
1.5 x 4500W = 6750W
Wendelspanswick
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The inrush current of the transformer kicking in would floor the generator. Its not like welding from dedicated supply where you have a large supply current which is protected by a device which will allow a brief exceeding of the limit without activating, at home you can get away with using a 180amp welder, on a low setting, on a 13amp fused socket because the fuse and MCB will allow short periods that exceed the rated current.
A 4KW generator is what it says, its limited to 4KW so exceeding that amount for a short time, as when the transformer kicks in, will overload it.
Spark plug
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I use a 5.5Kw generator to run my supermig 185 and I wouldn't want anything smaller, the generator runs it ok but I don't think it likes it.
I use my 210amp mig on a 6kVa genny. Its ok ish on lower levels but def no good once you get past car stuff. I also use it on a 15 kVa tractor genny & even on low levels it works much better than on the smaller genny. I guess due to the start up loads & respective engine sizes (400cc on the 6 kVa & 3000cc on the 15kVa).
normspanners
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Use a truck battery in series with the earth lead, use lower power settings on welder but turn up the wire feed the battery ups the total power to do heavy welds.
the only problem is the torch becomes semi live (with 12V)
I have done this in an emergency it worked fine, and did some cracking welds without stressing the genny.
Battery lasted quite along time enough to do quite a lot of welding on a trailer that needed some heavy ish welding on site.
May help the genny because the tranny core is semi saturated to start with??.
the only problem is the torch becomes semi live (with 12V)
I have done this in an emergency it worked fine, and did some cracking welds without stressing the genny.
Battery lasted quite along time enough to do quite a lot of welding on a trailer that needed some heavy ish welding on site.
May help the genny because the tranny core is semi saturated to start with??.
skotl
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I take it you mean a 24V truck battery? I can't imagine that would be tremendously impressed with being fed 30V for any length of time, and I reckon that a 12V battery would react pretty violently...
normspanners
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No a 12v
Why would it be fed 30 V ? I said in series with the earth lead all that you do is draw from the battery as in a Ready Welder, but with a ready welder you use 2 x12v batteries = 24v by using the battery and turning down the voltage of the welder to say 15/18v ish + battery voltage you are back up to 30v but not hammering the welder, or the supply
skotl
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Cos the earth lead is the return, so if the battery is in series then it sees the same voltage (and current) as the torch tip. Anyway - may be deviating off topic - if it works for you, then fair enough
normspanners
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all it does is raise the voltage of the weldtip in relation to the workpiece, by a factor of 12V OC----- 10 V ish when welding.
Cos the earth lead is the return, so if the battery is in series then it sees the same voltage (and current) as the torch tip. Anyway - may be deviating off topic - if it works for you, then fair enough
So what happens when you put 4 x 12v bats in series?
Thats right nothing. They are all still 12v but the total string voltage is 48v.
skotl
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That's a good point - hadn't thought about it that way.
