Welders and inverters?

[Maker]

My welder is broken, I might be able to fix it but I want to replace it anyway, with an AC/DC one
A lot of them on eBay are three phase, can I run one of these off a single to three phase inverter??

And if not, does anyone know of any single phase AC/DC TIGs going cheapish?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

A rotary would work, can't see a static working because the phase outputs are not equal and a VFD is designed for electric motors.

 

[Kent]

Just get a single phase one! besides anything else a lot of three phase commercial stuff will have seen serious abuse and use in its life

 

[Agroshield]

Is it not the case that the machines are three phase because they draw too much power for a single phase supply?

Given that any inverter/converter/VFD cannot be 100% efficient, interposing one of these between machine and supply will only compound the problem.

You might get away with it if you have a big enough converter on a 32A single phase supply.

 

[Jim Davey]

Above a certain output most TIGs have to be three phase for practicality.
You can get anything up to about 230 amps pretty easily off single phase. Some machines will give even more, but it's getting a heavy enough single phase supply that causes the problems, most people can't go much more than 32 amps single phase without having to spend money on uprated supplies.
How big a set do you need and how many amps single phase supply have you got available? That is what determines the size of set you can run.

 

[roofman]

My welder is broken, I might be able to fix it but I want to replace it anyway, with an AC/DC one
A lot of them on eBay are three phase, can I run one of these off a single to three phase inverter??

And if not, does anyone know of any single phase AC/DC TIGs going cheapish?

wheres the rolling on the floor smiley when you need it

 

[Fazerruss]

My welder is broken, I might be able to fix it but I want to replace it anyway, with an AC/DC one
A lot of them on eBay are three phase, can I run one of these off a single to three phase inverter??

And if not, does anyone know of any single phase AC/DC TIGs going cheapish?

What do you call cheap? I'm going to be upgrading soon so mine will be up for sale.

 

[normspanners]

maker most tigs are two phase or use two phases ie 415 can be ran using a old transformer welder as a auto transformer to boost up voltage and 'produce' two phases they will be slightly out because they will be at180deg though

 

[Jim Davey]

Not these days, very few are constructed as single phase 415. Most utilise all three unless it's a really old design like a miller or an old tech arc.

 

[normspanners]

Not these days, very few are constructed as single phase 415. Most utilise all three unless it's a really old design like a miller or an old tech arc.

I will bow to you more modern knowledge, thanks, my experience is of older gear, i was thinking if he was buying S/H he would be buying older gear.

 

[Jim Davey]

The older gear is made that way, often. But inverters are 15 year old tech now at least, and plenty of modern style true three phase stuff is available at sensible prices.
We still haven't heard from Maker exactly what he wants, but I'll hazard a guess he'll manage to find it if he's prepared to wait and keep his eyes open.

 

[the snooper]

wheres the rolling on the floor smiley when you need it

 

[Maker]

How big a set do you need and how many amps single phase supply have you got available? That is what determines the size of set you can run.

I need a tiny set, I rarely use(d) my current machine over 130ish amps. 160-200A is the smallest I regularly see, that would do me fine. I've got a 13 amp supply but I could get a bigger supply fitted if I need it.

What do you call cheap? I'm going to be upgrading soon so mine will be up for sale.

Absolute limit of £400. What have you got?

 

[Fazerruss]

I've got a transformer based Marshall Dynabolt with pedal. It's above your budget though as I was looking for around 600

 

[Jim Davey]

eBay is going to be where it's at on this one, with the associated lotto vibe.

 

[Maker]

I've got a transformer based Marshall Dynabolt with pedal. It's above your budget though as I was looking for around 600

It looks like its got a bit of gravity in it, I don't think I'd get it home even if I could afford it.

eBay is going to be where it's at on this one, with the associated lotto vibe.

So you don't have a really shop-soiled picotig you'd let go for that kind of money? eBay is where I'm looking, I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Fazerruss]

It looks like its got a bit of gravity in it, I don't think I'd get it home even if I could afford it.

You could say that, it's unlikely to blow away in a gust of wind

Although I did bring it home in the back of my car (skoda octavia)

 

[Jim Davey]

So you don't have a really shop-soiled picotig you'd let go for that kind of money? eBay is where I'm looking, I'll keep an eye out.

I do actually, but it's DC and still out of your price range. Sorry.

 

[Kent]

Above a certain output most TIGs have to be three phase for practicality.
You can get anything up to about 230 amps pretty easily off single phase. Some machines will give even more, but it's getting a heavy enough single phase supply that causes the problems, most people can't go much more than 32 amps single phase without having to spend money on uprated supplies.
How big a set do you need and how many amps single phase supply have you got available? That is what determines the size of set you can run.

That 230 has always been my knowledge but every darn time I say a 350 mig can't be done on single phase a load of members tell me it can
Still believe the machine could if another higher non obtainium supply could be produced

 

[Jim Davey]

In theory yes, you could make a thousand amp single phase machine, if you could give it a 200 amp 230v input, it's just not practical. I've sold a few 300/350 machines to farmers with a 63 amp 230v supply to ruin them on, over the years. Most industrial places have 3 phase though, and a modern efficient machine can chug out 300 amps for 16 amp per phase input. But to do the same work on one phase works out around 50 amps in.