Generator/stick welder suggestions

[GManBart]

Hey all,

We're getting ready to start on an outbuilding and I'm trying to do a little advance planning. I'm contracting out much of the work, but not all, and that's where this comes in. We already have a dedicated 20KW fixed standby generator for the main house that runs on natural gas, so we've got that covered. It's a couple of hundred feet from the house to where the outbuilding will be, so running extension cords isn't practical. On top of that, I don't own any kind of welder right now. I have access to a neighbor's MIG, oxy/acetylene, and stick welders, but I'm getting tired of bothering him any time I need something welded.

Further complicating things is that it's going to be a long time (months) before we'll likely be ready to have the building hooked up to the power grid. The electric company is in the beginning of moving the service lines out to the road from the deep grid in place now. I helped them get the right-of-ways signed by the neighbors, and I had three of the lots, so they agreed to run 460V/3-phase power back to where my outbuilding will be, at not cost to me (they set the pole this week). I'll want 3-phase for the milling machine, lathe, surface grinder, etc that will eventually be in the outbuilding.

I expect the building will be up for quite some time before it has power, and that I'll do enough of the work that I'm really going to need a generator for, at least some of the time. I thought it would be handy to add a stick welder function so I don't have to bother my neighbor as much as I do now.

Thoughts on size, brand, style, new, used etc that I should look at? I don't want to spend a fortune on it, because I don't see it getting much use once we're done with the construction...it would really just be backup power for the outbuilding, and I expect to get dedicated welders as time goes by, and I equip my shop (it's about a 10yr plan for me).

Any, and all suggestions are welcome. R,

 

[Shield Arc]

A buddy of mine has a Lincoln 305 G welder. That chopper technology is amazing! I just got him set up with an LN-25, and everything he needed to run Mig. Now he thinks he has died and gone to heaven.:laughing:


If you can't find one used, I'm sure new is out of the question. Maybe a used generator, a welding machine from Everlast or Longevity would be the cheapest way to go. I'd look real hard at the Power Arc 300, and the Stickweld 250. That way you get adjustable hot start, and arc force.


Rangerｮ 305 G EFI Engine Driven Welder (Kohler)

 

[GManBart]

A buddy of mine has a Lincoln 305 G welder. That chopper technology is amazing! I just got him set up with an LN-25, and everything he needed to run Mig. Now he thinks he has died and gone to heaven.:laughing:


If you can't find one used, I'm sure new is out of the question. Maybe a used generator, a welding machine from Everlast or Longevity would be the cheapest way to go. I'd look real hard at the Power Arc 300, and the Stickweld 250. That way you get adjustable hot start, and arc force.


Rangerｮ 305 G EFI Engine Driven Welder (Kohler)

Do you think the PA300 would work with a portable generator? I noticed it says 60 Amp startup, and 47 Amp continuous, which is above anything I've found in portable generators.

 

[ThomasH]

Its an inverter welder so it will basically draw only as much power as it needs to provide the output that you specify. Ifyou want around 100 amps, you can cut the power input requirements in half.

 

[Shield Arc]

I'd PM Mark with Everlast and ask him. I just through the PA-300 out there, because if it was on the market when I bought my PA-200 I would have bought it instead. I always push the adjustable hot start, and arc force. But if you don't think you need those options maybe look at the PA-200. 200-amps should be plenty for the average home project. PM Mark and ask him how big of a welder you can go with for what size generator. Remember it's easy to turn a welder down, really hard to use amps you didn't pay for.

 

[pawon]

Be carefull with welders on a generator.

I have worked for a big generator manufacturer (10 - 1000 kW / 1500 hp) and have seen many problems with welders on generators.

If your generator is 3-phase and your welder is single phase, you will draw a big asymetric current, which is not good for the generator.

Also, your generator will probably have automatic breakers (fuses).. they seem to trip frequently because of the inrush currents of welding..

Third, I have seen that the voltage would 'collapse' or drop to a low voltage, because of the strange current shapes that (inverter) welders draw.

Just my $0.02

(I'm not saying it can't be done, just be careful and try or ask before you buy

 

[George2615]

I have a Gas powered Miller Bobcat 250NT welder / generator. It works great for all my welding needs and as a generator it will run my whole house including 2 A/C units.
I mounted mine on a shipping crate with 4 - 6" wheels to make it easily movable. I only have 107 hours on this. It had 19 when I bought it. I change oil and filter once a year. It has a 20HP engine, 250 amps, rated at 10KW and does 220 and 110V single phase. It's been a great unit. I bought it because I had to replace an old A/C only welder and a generator that was too small to run my whole house.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The PA 300 can be used with 1 phase 240V or 3 phase 240V. I think we can spec it out on a special order at the factory for 480 as well. It depends upon your budget, but the PowerMTS 400 might be a better long term fit. It's capable of single 240V and 3 phase 480. It's a fantastic stick welder...and mig welder...and carbon arc...and scratch tig...

 

[Arc weld]

I think most inverters handle power fluctuations better than other machines but it would be best to check with the generator and welder OEM's concerning running an inverter off a welder/generator. I've read that a Miller XMT 304 can be run off a Trailblazer up to about 160 amps. On the other hand my buddy was told by Lincoln not to run his transformer based TIG welder(Squarewave TIG 255) off his Ranger 305G. Not clean enough power or something like that. He bought the TIG machine off of me after a bad deal I had but has since moved where there isn't a plug to run it.

 

[DaveOmak]

One of my welders is a Miller Trail Blazer... It will run the house and weld anything, anywhere.... Spool gun and 50' welding stick leads.. It has the Kohler engine... It's old but a dandy....