Mark
Does everlast make an inverter stick welder that I can use with a 220v 30 amp circuit that performs as well as the old Lincoln buzz boxes. I know the new inverter technology is more efficient but I cant say I am able to understand the comparison.
Thanks
Yes, we have several. All of them perform better than the lincoln buzz boxes. Having welded extensively with both, I am qualified to make that assertion. And don't think the Lincoln buzzboxes don't tear up. Switches, fans, diodes do go out on those units. They can be repaired, but they do go out.
Inverters make a more smooth, stable arc. It also affects how the arc responds to arc length. On a buzz box, you can stick the rod if the rod is held too short. On an inverter, it just gets the welder going as the arc force kicks in to up the amperage. You also have hot start which helps keep the rod from sticking as it boosts arc amperage temporarily during arc strike. You also have much finer control over the amperage. On a buzz box, you have 20 - 30 amp gaps in adjustment on the Lincoln type. That can make something way too hot or too cold for the job. Inverters have infinite amp per amp adjustment. They are lighter, much lighter, smaller and typically the arc is much smoother as the DC arc (if it has that capability) has to be created from something cycling at 60 times a second (AC power). An inverter creates DC from something that is cycling (depending upon the inverter) anywhere from 40k to 100k times a second. To get the picture, think of DC as a straight line. An AC/DC buzz box has to rectify AC power into DC. There are tiny little breaks in the current which make it look more like a dotted straight line. The finer the dotted spaces and segments, the more it looks like a solid DC line. Which would look more like a solid (DC) line (which indicates a smoother arc)? One broken into 60 segments over 1 foot or one broken into 40k segments in one foot?
Also the duty cycle on an inverter is much higher. An ACDC buzz box only puts out about 120 amps on DC at 20% duty cycle. And on AC the unit only has 15-20% or so at full amperage. All our units beat that easily I think.
You can take a look at the PowerArc 200ST, PowerARC 160STH, and PowerARC 140ST. You will need a slow trip breaker on that circuit to handle the 200ST, and 160STH, for maximum output, but probably will work at a much higher amperage than a buzzbox on that same circuit. The 140ST shouldn't have much if any issue on 30 amp breaker with slow trip.
