Welding off a generator

[Natureboy]

I have a small welding project that needs to be completed nowhere near any type of electric source. Would running a Hobart EZ 125 mig off of a B&S 6250 surgewatt-5500 running watt generator damage either welder or generator? The Hobart runs on 110v - 20 amp circuit when used normally.

 

[yomax4]

Try it..I guess you can do 1/8 " or slightly more. Don't turn it up past the output or you wtyill actually lose capacity..

 

[chips papaw]

hello i have used my 140c off of a generator a bunch of times with no problems at all. papaw

 

[nikdfish]

I've used a similar sized Craftsman wire feed on a Porter Cable BSI550 5500 watt without problems.

Nick

 

[Natureboy]

Thanks for the replies, I'm gonna give it a go.

 

[arrow]

I run my 100 amp stick welder on 20 amp circuit off of my 5000w- 6250 surge Coleman and everything remains fine. Supposedly a stick welder is more difficult to run off a generator but as I said, I have no problems.

 

[Natureboy]

I run my 100 amp stick welder on 20 amp circuit off of my 5000w- 6250 surge Coleman and everything remains fine. Supposedly a stick welder is more difficult to run off a generator but as I said, I have no problems.

Just curious, does your stick welder run on 110v or 220v?

 

[Soundguy]

i've run my hobart 235ACXL stickmate off my 12.5kw genny on an antique tractor.. no arc blowouts or anything.. I usually weld around 70-110a

soundguy

 

[radioman]

Just curious, does your stick welder run on 110v or 220v?

I have same welder- its 110. I also have a 6k something rated surge genny but 5k running. Only thing is I havent tried it yet with those two.

 

[mullins87]

I have a Lincoln Arc 180. It runs on 240 volts. The label states the input amperage is 42. I have a B&S 5500 watt/8250 surge watt generator. I've needed to use this welder in the field on a few occasions.

Here's my question...Does the welder pull a constant amperage from the power supply regardless of the welder setting, or does it ramp up as you turn up the amperage? And if the amperage does ramp up, at what point would I overload the generator?

 

[Soundguy]

more power consumed, more power sourced.

IE.. welding at 180a draws more than welding at 70a.. otherwise a guy with a 235a welder would always be drawing max even welding at 70a. a very ineficient proposition!


soundguy

 

[grsthegreat]

when we calc out loads for welding equipment, the listed amperage....lets say 42 amps @ 240 volts = 10,080 watts.

but a generator only spikes that wattage for a second, after arc is established, the wattage (and amperage draw) is drastically reduced.

but a 5000 watt gen in this situation is pretty much underpowered for any large amt of welding. most people i see are using 10k generator sets to weld off of.

 

[Chain Bender]

Just curious, does your stick welder run on 110v or 220v?

XXXXXXXXXXX

I've got an old Chicago Electric stick welder that will weld off 110 or 220. Of course yo have to have the right plug on it I guess. The on/off switch sits in the off position. Turn it left and run 110, turn it right and run 220.

It burns up all the 3/32 rods I have on 110 easily. Haven't tried anything any bigger though. Guess I should try it though.

CB

 

[Transit]

I have done it. I had to enrich the fuel mixture or the motor-gen would surge.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I got a honda eu 2000 generator which is small for welding so I bought a acetylene set up.

 

[mullins87]

when we calc out loads for welding equipment, the listed amperage....lets say 42 amps @ 240 volts = 10,080 watts.

but a generator only spikes that wattage for a second, after arc is established, the wattage (and amperage draw) is drastically reduced.

but a 5000 watt gen in this situation is pretty much underpowered for any large amt of welding. most people i see are using 10k generator sets to weld off of.

I came up with that 10k watts also....slightly:laughing: more than what my little 5k rig can handle. I guess I'll just keep dragging my stuff up to the house.

 

[Chilly807]

Interesting question.

My old Miller 135 MIG would run off of our Honda 5000 watt generator, no problems at all.

I have a Miller 180 MIG now, and it's not nearly as happy as the 135 was on the generator. Weld quality is iffy once you're past 3/16 material (it's good on normal house current) on the generator.

It also won't quite run full power without opening the breaker.

I checked the frequency at full load, it's close enough to 60 Hz that it shouldn't bother the welder electronics, but there's something that the welder doesn't like.

Sean

 

[arrow]

Just curious, does your stick welder run on 110v or 220v?

it is 110

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

As for me I bought acetylene and torch with smaller tanks so I am more portable. Good for smaller jobs and I can heat and bend metal into place. Hope I do not blow up.

 

[rhett]

My setup:
Lincoln Weld-Pak 155
TroyBuilt Generator 5550W continuous/8550 surge

Use:
Innershield (flux-core) wire most used.
MIG feature is used for Aluminum projects only by me.

One project, a drill pipe fence, I worked 8 days, 12 hours a day with no issues. It was welding a little cold so I did use the "E" tap to get a hotter puddle (grid power I use the "D" tap).

A little info: (Weld-Pak anyway)
The "A,B,C,D & E tap selector switch controls weld voltage.
The Wire Speed also controls weld amperage.
Voltage limits Amperage.

My concern, which one day soon I will learn, is the use of a "Inverter Stick Welder" with a genset. My hopes are that the newer IGBT versions will hold up to the un-clean power supply. The small transformer in my Lincoln Weld-Pak has seen no issues to date.