Welders and generators

[Mr Fro]

Hello good people!

Me again with another daft question... :-)

I recently acquired an old (older than me!) Honda es3500 genny rated at 3.5KVA peak, 2.8KVA continuous which I've fixed up and modernised.

Now, the main reason for buying was to use for tyre warmers at track days but I was thinking it would be handy for out and about jobs. It should have enough puff to cope with the welder unless I set the thing to max and run a massive bead but I don't know if it'll be safe to use with an inverter welder.

Last thing I want to do is fry a control board or something. I'm aware that older generators can cause issues with modern technology and seeing as I have no experience with using generators, I though I'd throw it out to you knowledgeable chaps!

Cheers,
Fro

 

[the snooper]

2.8kva is nowhere near big enough to run a welder and it certainly wouldn't cope with the inrush I wouldn't put an inverter anywhere near it.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I wouldn't put any welder on that size of generator new or old, never mind an inverter.
You need a far higher output for a welder than you'd think from matching up the specs, aim for no less than for a generator with 50% higher output than what a welder claims to need.

 

[Mr Fro]

Fair enough, that's pretty much what I expected.

You reckon 2.8 wouldn't even cope with a bit of light MIG or is it a case of going well over to keep everything within comfortable limits? Just curious...

Looks like it's plan a - tyre warmers and a kettle! :-)

Thanks again!

 

[Bill Edwards]

With a transformer you might manage on some of the low settings. But I say might, it's unlikely to be worth trying and the generator will be getting pushed hard so I would never recommend it. Inverters - the low voltages would probably kill it very fast.