Arc weld
Veteran Member
Which Everlast were you looking at? You'll pay the $250 difference in power in short order. I bet the Everlast could probably work on about a 30 amp breaker. I know a guy with a Dynasty 300 Miller inverter TIG welder. He used to have a Syncrowave 250. Both good machines. The Syncrowave would trip a 60 amp breaker. The Dynasty put out more amps, has way better arc control and will run all day on a 30 amp breaker. I shop I worked in went from 3 phase transformer welders to Miller XMT 304's. They were saving about $1000 a month on power per machine! They bought 14 XMT 304's with 60 series wire feeders. $14,000/month is a huge savings. I know this is in a commercial setting but comparing an inverter to the TM will still bring big savings. You may need heavier wiring for the TM in case you ever want to turn the amps up. Welding wise, the TM is a good machine though.
For home use or around the farm 200 amps is plenty. The AC 225/DC125 the OP was originally looking at is less than half of the DC rating of the PA 300. Personally, I like being able to burn 3/16" 7018 on bigger jobs but I have a lot of experience burning 3/16" and 1/4" 7018 on large skids and heavy pressure vessels and piping. Don't have much need for 1/4" on my own projects. It's a big difference going to 1/4" at 300+ amps.
For home use or around the farm 200 amps is plenty. The AC 225/DC125 the OP was originally looking at is less than half of the DC rating of the PA 300. Personally, I like being able to burn 3/16" 7018 on bigger jobs but I have a lot of experience burning 3/16" and 1/4" 7018 on large skids and heavy pressure vessels and piping. Don't have much need for 1/4" on my own projects. It's a big difference going to 1/4" at 300+ amps.