Generator requirements

[bfletch7441]

I'm in the market to get a little wire welder to use around the farm. I like the looks of these two.

POWER MIG® 180C MIG Welder

POWER MIG® 140C MIG Welder

What generator wattage would I need to run them?

Thanks,

Ben

 

[IXLR8]

I'm in the market to get a little wire welder to use around the farm. I like the looks of these two.

POWER MIG® 180C MIG Welder

POWER MIG® 140C MIG Welder

What generator wattage would I need to run them?

Thanks,

Ben

Just looking at the spec's for the 180, 20 amps input current, 208 volts = 4160 watts. So any good generator 5000 watts or larger should do it.

 

[buickanddeere]

In some ways the smaller welder needs a much or more generator than the larger welder.
That said either choice of welder is not a very heavy unit and something larger maybe considered.
On occasion a little old 10, 12.5 or 15KW pto generator sells cheap.
Portable gasser generator? 6500W absolute minimum and could be problematic. 10,000Wis a realistic minimum.

 

[buickanddeere]

Just looking at the spec's for the 180, 20 amps input current, 208 volts = 4160 watts. So any good generator 5000 watts or larger should do it.

Sizing a welder or motor is not like sizing a row of light bulbs.
Reactive power is a consideration.

 

[bfletch7441]

So 10K running watts? It will be a gas generator, don't see many pto generators around here. I've found myself increasingly relying on battery tools and have decided it's time to buy some mobile power.

Ben

 

[DarkBlack]

Regular 5k gas genny will run either fine. Choose the 180C as it's 230V and lets you use all the generator windings.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Lincoln confirms that it will in this article: Lincoln Electric Newsroom | Lincoln Electric Introduces New Portable AC Welder/Generator
But in reality, the 180 is really set up for mostly 140 amps...and at that it's only 20% duty cycle. The rest of it is just theoretical output.