Solar AC/DC Welder

[George2615]

Anyone heard of this welder? I haven't found anything online. I believe it was built in 1995 from a tag on it. It's a model 2234, has Hi and Low plugs for AC and DC. Has the hand crank on top for setting the amps. Came with 40' lead with clamp for ground and a 48' lead with stinger. I saw it at a local car show / flea market today with a $100 tag on it. I talked with the owner about it who said make an offer as he didn't want to go back home with it. I offered $50 and and he said OK. For that price I couldn't pass it up. The leads are worth that much. When I got it home I took the hand crank off and blew all the dust out of the inside. Looks to be in good condition. I didn't really need another welder as I already have a gas powered Miller Bobcat NT250 AC/DC welder generator for most of my welding plus a small Mig welder. I figured I could use it for small jobs so I don't have to roll out the Miller and fire that up. I have to wired up a 220V receptacle to test it. If it checks out OK I'll make a cart with handle to roll it around.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Northern tool sells that brand.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

When I saw "solar" in the title my first thought was oh no here we go with a welding 3/8" plate with a solar powered welder thread :laughing:

 

[Bob E]

I'm pretty sure it was made by Century.

[Just a picture I pulled off the net.]

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I'm pretty sure it was made by Century.
View attachment 389523
[Just a picture I pulled off the net.]

That's the exact same welder I bought in the mid 90's

 

[Bob E]

When I searched bing for "solar 2234 welder" It brought up a link to the old century website titled "110-122 2234 Solar PowerDisc 230/140 amp AC/DC arc welder". Of course when you click on it, it brings up a page saying your not authorized to view the page. But you should be able to email either the people running the century web site or Lincoln Electric for a pdf of the manual if they still have it.

 

[BukitCase]

Bought my Solar AC/DC in 1975 - I've blown the dust out once, tightened up one of the front panel jacks once, never had a hiccup other than the loose connector. Still works good, better than me on some days

Like you said, hard to get hurt when the leads were worth more than you paid... Steve

 

[Walkin Horse]

I had a Sears that looked just like that back in the early 80s.

 

[BigE_]

When I saw "solar" in the title my first thought was oh no here we go with a welding 3/8" plate with a solar powered welder thread :laughing:

That was my exact thought as well!

I was trying to picture how big that solar array would have to be to do a well. LOL.

 

[Sodo]

That was my exact thought as well!
I was trying to picture how big that solar array would have to be to do a well. LOL.

The MIG that welded the 3/8" test plates shown earlier required 20A @ 120v or 2400 watts to weld at full power. A 4kW inverter could power a 120v MIG just fine. I'd guess that you'd need a 4,000 watt array, and welding between 10AM and 2PM to not draw your batteries down. Just for discussion sake. But realistically you would weld anytime, with stored battery power.

To weld with 240v you would need something like an 8kW inverter, that's getting kinda hefty.

But careful even trying this, the fellas with 8 kW inverters may get their feelings hurt. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

 

[George2615]

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try Northern, Century, and Lincoln sites for further info.

Bob E, That Century looks identical to mine.

Happy G, I did once see a pic of a guy welding using a solar array connected to a bank of batteries and an inverter.

 

[k0ua]

Why bother with the inverter.?. just hook up to 36 volts of your battery bank and put a stick in the stinger and strike your arc.. You can weld with two batteries at 24 volts, but 3 at 36 volts are better. Easier to strike the arc.

 

[George2615]

Lincoln already replied to my Email.
Now have manuals in hand. Thanks again.

 

[George2615]

Wired it up Monday after work and made a few test welds. Welder works like a charm. Welded great so I made up a cart to roll it around. Best $50. I ever spent.

 

[BukitCase]

George, considering you got probably $300 worth of leads in the deal, you could have tossed the welder in the trash and STILL came out - not that you'd ever DO that of course - my older Solar has lasted me 40 years so far, cost me $250 back in the '70's, and only came with 10' and 15' leads.

Deal ain't the word for it, but it RHYMES ...Steve

 

[k0ua]

Wired it up Monday after work and made a few test welds. Welder works like a charm. Welded great so I made up a cart to roll it around. Best $50. I ever spent.

Man, you did good.

 

[George2615]

Thanks guys. For the price I paid at the flea market I really didn't expect the welder to work (It's buyer beware at those types of sales) but I knew I could get my money back on the cables. This will save a lot of time from having to roll out the big welder.

 

[lilranch2001]

When I saw "solar" in the title my first thought was oh no here we go with a welding 3/8" plate with a solar powered welder thread :laughing:

I was going to comment I would never own a solar welding machine, I would throw it in the river
I would only have a wind powered welding machine

 

[wawajake]

I was going to comment I would never own a solar welding machine, I would throw it in the river
I would only have a wind powered welding machine

yes but then we would have Sodo telling us that he can weld in a breeze the same or better than in a hurricane.......and then we would need to test the wind with brain farts ......and someone would be full of hot air...etc etc

 

[Colonel Monk]

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try Northern, Century, and Lincoln sites for further info.

Bob E, That Century looks identical to mine.

Happy G, I did once see a pic of a guy welding using a solar array connected to a bank of batteries and an inverter.

Yeah, truth is, nobody ever welded anything strictly WITH solar unless it was a MAJOR installation - even then, you are generally drawing that much power off the battery bank. Welding with batteries? Of course!! Sure, you can use just batteries, but it's sure not as easy to dial in the proper voltage, and it will change as you weld and the batteries deplete.

I've got a 2000W continuous Magnum Energy Inverter/Charger in my RV, and it would power a small wire feed no problem, for short bursts of time, say 5-10 minutes. I would not use it for that unless I had to, but it could do it.

Just sayin....

That's a nice old Arc Welder, I swear with all the great old ones around I don't know why anybody would buy a NEW arc welder. I guarantee you the transformers in the old welders are way better than the new ones. Mig welding sure is simple though - I'm planning to add one to my shop for everything but the big welds.