Generators: Rated as 'clean power'. How can I tell and is there something to clean it

[woodlandfarms]

This article simplifies it a bit...

Choosing between a conventional, silenced or an inverter generator - Greengear

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Mark,
Here's a three part question:
1. Is the welder pictured in the linked ad one of the ones that you've mentioned? 875 Peak/7 Running Watts, 13 HP (42cc) Generator EPA III with GFCI Outlet Protection

2. Would it be run the sweet little Everlast PowerArc 160 welder that you sold me?

3. Would my welder still be covered under the 5 year warranty if this generator blows it?

No, no, and no.

Sorry. Missed this reply. I am not sure, you will need to call HF on their rating. The small enclosed one is listed as clean power, but there is some information out in their flyers that lead one to believe the others may be safe. But you should have enough power.

 

[tkevan]

Powerhorse generators from Northern Tool are all THD<5%. Good price, copper wound heads, non inverter lots of guys over on Weldingweb running inverter welders on them, including Everlast.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200664810_200664810

 

[bigdeano]

Just leave your washing machine plugged in to your generator. You'll have nice clean power. :laughing:

 

[LittleBill21]

thd on the harbor freight is listed at <25% THD, that said i scoped it and the ouput is quite clean, the HF new inverter gen is made by WEN which i also own, and scoped and is also very clean looking

 

[TomSeller]

thd on the harbor freight is listed at <25% THD, that said i scoped it and the ouput is quite clean, the HF new inverter gen is made by WEN which i also own, and scoped and is also very clean looking

25%? Holy Carp!

 

[dragoneggs]

thd on the harbor freight is listed at <25% THD, that said i scoped it and the ouput is quite clean, the HF new inverter gen is made by WEN which i also own, and scoped and is also very clean looking

Yikes! Clean power considered less than 5%. Always hard to find THD ratings on compressors. I would NOT plug any electronics into that one!

 

[OkieDave]

thd on the harbor freight is listed at <25% THD, that said i scoped it and the ouput is quite clean, the HF new inverter gen is made by WEN which i also own, and scoped and is also very clean looking

Have you scope it under heavy, varying load? Inductive load? It's easy to be clean under ideal conditions.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I like name brand inverters. Cleaner than utility power. Which, by the way, may not always be < 5% if your neighbor switches large inductive or reactive loads . If he has poorly balanced legs on his 3 phase, that wont help. You may have more wiggle room than you think. Electronics have gotten tougher and better than they used to be. How expensive is the equipment you want to expose to a slight risk? Some equipment has large corncob resistors or sacrifical (varistors?) Under the hood to keep from boat anchoring the thing. Did I ask how expensive the thing was?

Mfg have skewed their rotors, tweaked windings, added reactors, or added huge capacitors to clean up genny output. The big brands usually have better tech and expend more effort to fine tune. Often they can rummage through their part bin and take an existing, superior design and tweak or freshen up a bit with very little effort.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Cleanliness of power doesn't always fall along name brands. For example, Northern tools has their PowerHorse line that IS rated as clean power, and it is less than the 5% threshold. And they are cheap.