will home generator run welder?????

[jwnge]

thats my question. I am thinking about buying a generator and am wondering if it would run an old Lincoln. I am thinking 9000 watt Powerhorse. I have220 but it would be a major pain to run it to my garage. thanks, John

 

[zonta223]

Whats the actual power rating of your welder?
The makers tag on it should give you a max amp figure.
Kilowatts = Volts (220) X Amps from makers tag divided by 1000. See what figure in Kw you get
Handyman and hobby welders normally draw about 3 to 5 Kw at 220 volts.
Heavier duty welders will take more but a 9kw system should be fine.

 

[Craig Clayton]

Why not buy a combination welder and generator , I know they cost a bit more.

Craig Clayton

 

[jwnge]

It is a 225 amp Linkwelder, it is pretty old, copper inside instead of aluminum. I think I have heard them referred to as tombstones.

 

[jwnge]

I have the welder now and the generator is $750, figured this would be the cheapest way to go. I don't plan using the welder much anyway. I need a new wear bar welded on my tractor and the dealer said $400 to do it, so just think of doing it myself to save money and apply it to the gen. which I want for electric outages anyway.

 

[Soundguy]

9000w is about 40a on the 220v line

considering you probably won't be running at max setting, but rather somewhere between 90-110a setting for alot of homeowner stuff.. should run it find.

my 12.5kw genny runs my hobart 235xl fine.. again.. I run about 100a setting mostly

 

[jwnge]

Thanks, really what I needed to know, I just looked on the front and it does have a chart, it takes 50 at its highest setting, 225, I will stay under to be safe.

 

[JB4310]

From what I've heard in other threads the answer is yes it will let you weld, not sure how many amps you will get, but my guess is maybe even up to 150amps.

One thing you wont run is a compressor like mine, which says it's 5 HP but that is disputed by today's ratings. It's plugged into a 120 volt 20 amp outlet and never tripped the breaker.
But my 10kw pto genny wouldn't start it unless there was no pressure in the tank, if it's full and drops below the 85 psi on pressure it wont restart :confused2:

Don't know how it's start up requirement could be higher than the pto genny is capable of, which is supposed to be 2 times the 10 kw ???

JB

 

[JD 4520]

One thing you wont run is a compressor like mine, which says it's 5 HP but that is disputed by today's ratings. It's plugged into a 120 volt 20 amp outlet and never tripped the breaker.
But my 10kw pto genny wouldn't start it unless there was no pressure in the tank, if it's full and drops below the 85 psi on pressure it wont restart :confused2:

Don't know how it's start up requirement could be higher than the pto genny is capable of, which is supposed to be 2 times the 10 kw ???

JB

This is odd. Sounds like there is another problem that for what ever reason is not showing up when connected to electric service. Hum...

 

[Soundguy]

remember.. the wattage for a genny is half on each leg of 220.. thus a large load like a 20a load on 120 is big. and some large motors can take 2-5x their run rating to start.

 

[zonta223]

remember.. the wattage for a genny is half on each leg of 220.. thus a large load like a 20a load on 120 is big. and some large motors can take 2-5x their run rating to start.

Very true if the Alternator is a 2 phase 110 volt unit....However if it a straight single phase 220 unit and has no 110 volt outlets then both active and neutral should support that load easily.
There are many possible combinations of what is causing the PTO driven Alternator not to run the compressor such as voltage control....speed control when the alternator loads up......cable size etc etc, need a couple of meters on it during operation to find the exact problem

 

[JB4310]

Very true if the Alternator is a 2 phase 110 volt unit....However if it a straight single phase 220 unit and has no 110 volt outlets then both active and neutral should support that load easily.
There are many possible combinations of what is causing the PTO driven Alternator not to run the compressor such as voltage control....speed control when the alternator loads up......cable size etc etc, need a couple of meters on it during operation to find the exact problem

I'm pretty sure it is split or 2 phase, it does have 110 outlets as well as 220 outlet on the generator. There is HZ and volt meters on the genny to monitor, they stay within spec.
And I am certain that the cable size should be good at 6 gauge from genny to panel and 12 gauge from panel to outlet.

This compressor has an option to wire it 220 volt, never looked inside but I don't think its that complicated, maybe that would solve the problem, more a inconvenience, but seems on paper it shouldn't be happening.

Sorry for the hijack swnge

As far as welding off the generator, I have a Honda portable welder/generator.
The welder is capable of 175 amps DC but the generator is only ~4000 watts ac and only 120 volts, no 220 outlet.

Not sure if that all means anything???

JB

 

[Soundguy]

Very true if the Alternator is a 2 phase 110 volt unit....However if it a straight single phase 220 unit and has no 110 volt outlets then both active and neutral should support that load easily.
There are many possible combinations of what is causing the PTO driven Alternator not to run the compressor such as voltage control....speed control when the alternator loads up......cable size etc etc, need a couple of meters on it during operation to find the exact problem

considering jb4310 said this:

It's plugged into a 120 volt 20 amp outlet and never tripped the breaker.

I think it's plainly obvious.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

This compressor has an option to wire it 220 volt, never looked inside but I don't think its that complicated, maybe that would solve the problem, more a inconvenience, but seems on paper it shouldn't be happening.
JB

it would likely help.

again, however.. if that motor simply has a super high start load vs it's run, it may not be enough genny.

we were powering a well with a 5500w genny.. or trying anyway. pump was rated at 1.5k it would not start on a 5500/6500 ( run/peak) genny, however would start on a 6500/7200 genny.

soundguy