Pluging my welder into generator

[Mid Wales welder]

Hi all, i have been looking at a generator on ebay, its 6.5Kva and has one 32amp 230v socket and two 16amp 110v sockets. My welder has a 230v 16amp plug on it. so my question is can i plug it into the 32amp socket on the generator? i'm guessing that the actual plug will be a differant size, but if i put the 32amp plug on it then will it work or not? hope that all makes sence! Any info would be great thanks.

Dave.

 

[the snooper]

it may work but not at full power, the initial inrush of power maybe more then the genny will supply

 

[Mid Wales welder]

it may work but not at full power, the initial inrush of power maybe more then the genny will supply

oh rite, i thought that the genny would be putting out too much power as its a 32 amp socket and the welder only needs 16 amps?

 

[the snooper]

no the output of the genny is what its capable of supplying the welder will take what it needs

what do you intend welding with it ?

 

[the snooper]

it will actually be around 25 to 27 amps output

 

[Mid Wales welder]

ah i see, so as long as the plug fits it should work coz 6.5Kva is plenty for the welder.
My welder is a 200amp Tig/stick DC so i'll be welding whatever it can handle really! I was more just looking out of intrest as i only use it in the garage at the mo, but my farther in law is a builder and was askig if i could do some site welding.

 

[keith19]

If the genny can really supply 32A then providing you use a 32A plug on your 16A welder your welder should work okay. You will not harm your 16A welder by plugging it into a 32A supply, because the 32A is only what is (in theory) available, and your welder will only take from that what it can use.

But as said, a genny sometimes cannot instantly supply the amount of inrush current required, which can be massive if you are welding near the top of the range. Some are better than others at this. Bigger gennies cope better, of course. 6.5 kva is somewhere near the bottom of the range you should be looking at, and something more robust would be advisable.

 

[the snooper]

that generator will be too small to use the welder up full and some welders just dont get on with generators at all

i have a 5kva diesel and my mig and arc dont run well at all infact quite badly

 

[Mid Wales welder]

Yeh i see what you mean about it drawing more power on start up, i have also seen a 10.5Kva genny at a pretty good price. If i do get into it a bit more then i will be investing in a better welder, maybe the miller multi process inverter which reading up about and speaking to the welding consumables guy who comes to my work will defo run on full power from a 10Kva genny, so i'll see how it goes! the welder i have now is generator friendly.

 

[the snooper]

yeah id go for the 10kva the 6.5 will probably be a total waste of cash

 

[Mid Wales welder]

Thanks for your help!

Regards

Dave.

 

[p0689109]

Info only

I have just been on the website "i-bidder.com" which deals in online auctions of all sorts. Just your luck but today there was a big auction of cars,and plant of all sorts especially the towable big generators of the sort you would probably need. Those designated welders/generators are the ones to get. The auction lots are still visible with the prices if you give it a scan. They seem to have a regular supply of the sort of stuff that would interest the members of this forum.
Good luck anyway.
Regards, Michael T