Hey, Highbeam...it works!!!

tanglefoot · Sep 7, 2006

I made a 6' cord to connect my 220v tombstone welder to my 5K portable generator and finally got a chance to try it out today. It works great! The auto idle on the generator works better than the one on my Hobart portable welder ever did. After burning six rods, one of the 25 amp breakers tripped, but I reset it and went back to welding. I may have a weak breaker. How hard are they to replace?
Butch

MrJimi · Sep 7, 2006

tanglefoot said:
I made a 6' cord to connect my 220v tombstone welder to my 5K portable generator and finally got a chance to try it out today. It works great! The auto idle on the generator works better than the one on my Hobart portable welder ever did. After burning six rods, one of the 25 amp breakers tripped, but I reset it and went back to welding. I may have a weak breaker. How hard are they to replace?
Butch

If its a breaker, just flip it. You may have exceeded your duty cycle
Jim

Highbeam · Sep 7, 2006

Cool! Now you have a remote welding operation that you can use anywhere.

Did you notice any arc stability or arc starting difficulty? How many welder amps were you throwing? I honestly notice better arc quality and touch off when using shore power but as far as being able to make field repairs the 5kw generator and 220 arc welder is functional.

I would not upsize the breaker but replacing a bad one with a new one of the same rating should be fine. I believe Rob, 3RRL, had to replace one of his too. So far, I have not popped a breaker on my 6850 surge/5500 continuous rated generator except for when I try to weld and run the pair of halogen flood lights at the same time.

Thanks for reporting back, there are many non-believers. Even Lincoln.

firemanpat2910 · Sep 7, 2006

can you shorten the cord any? I had a long cord hooked to my 10000 w gen and kept tripping. shortened the cord and all was good.

kossetx · Sep 7, 2006

Were the breakers that tripped supplying the welder? If so, 25 amp is light. I'm going by memory, but I believe a 220 ac welder requires a 40A circut. I'd use it for light welding anyway, you'll just have to reset the breaker every so often.

Highbeam · Sep 7, 2006

The 220 volt tobstone welder is supplied with the standard 50 amp style plug which does NOT mean it needs 50 amps of 220 power. The tombstone can only pull so many amps based on 25 welding volts and 225 AC amps, throw in a bit for inefficiency of the transformer and the cooling fan and you are way below 40 total amps of 220 which is 8800 watts. You'll know you're welding beyond the generator's output when your properly functioning circuit breaker pops.

Hey, here's a weird electrical question. If you have a 20 amp breaker on each 110 volt leg of a 220 volt circuit does that mean you have 40 amps of 220 available? It makes my brain hurt right now.

3RRL · Sep 7, 2006

I don't think so Highbeam, it's still 20 amps....

That's great you got your welder going tanglefoot! I was thrilled when Highbeam posted about using his Lincoln 225 with his 5,000w generator. Got mine and it works great in the boondocks.

I did have one weak breaker and kept blowing it. I think the stock ones are 25 amp on mine. They are easy to switch once you take the front cover off the welder. I switched the breakers and the same one kept blowing (now on the other leg). I bought 2 new ones and changed them both to 30 amps. I don't recommend doing that but it works for me. I usually am pretty good about staying with the duty cycle, especially at the property where I'm forever switching positions and have to break anyway.

Good job and way to go.
Highbeam...another satisfied customer!

tanglefoot · Sep 7, 2006

Thanks to all...I will probably stay with the 25 amp breaker. I was welding with 75 amps which was plenty for the 2 7/8" oilfield tubing I'm using. The arc struck just fine, made a good weld.
Butch

Captinjack · Sep 7, 2006

I've never welded higher than 125 amps on my tombstone and the current draw at that level is mucho below the draw at the full rated 225 amps AC.

I plan on using a 5500 W generator with mine, but haven't had the strength to move the heavy bugger yet. I tried to by a bargain HF unit that they gave me a rain check on, however, they discontinued stocking the welder and my rain check is worthless. They advertised a 80A/160 amp inverter welder for $80 that I was going to use at camp, but struck out. Still looking.

Ron25 · Sep 7, 2006

Made one too and works great. 125 amp was no problem but it does strike a little different.

sandman2234 · Sep 8, 2006

So I guess I can run my Tombstone on the lawn mower generator I recently bought!
My lawnmower powers a 10k surge, 7200 continous generator, which should be enough for portable welding.
David from jax

tanglefoot · Sep 8, 2006

David,
Yes, I would think so.
Butch

rdln · Sep 8, 2006

After replying to the previous related post and linking the lincoln website faq page about this. I tried my ac/dc lincoln buzzbox again with my 10hp 5500 watt continuous generator and made sure I tried both ac and dc current settings and still cant start an arc. As the FAQ page mentioned The electrode sticks alot. Are any of you successful at this using an ac/dc unit?

Highbeam · Sep 8, 2006

Careful RDLN, your about to hit 1000 on your post count, Yipee!

I have not tried an AC/DC unit. I would gladly trade you for my AC only unit though so that you can weld off of your generator.

sandman2234 · Sep 9, 2006

Highbeam,
Are you also willing to pay shipping on both of those units, also?
Getting one to him would be one thing, getting another back would have to start getting expensive! Those things are not light in any form or fashion.
David from jax

RDLN, congradulations on the 1K post.
David

Captinjack · Sep 12, 2006

RDLN

Make sure that you have fresh rods of the correct size and that all your connections are tight.

Highbeam · Sep 12, 2006

sandman2234 said:
Highbeam,
Are you also willing to pay shipping on both of those units, also?
Getting one to him would be one thing, getting another back would have to start getting expensive! Those things are not light in any form or fashion.

Good point. Shipping might be pricey and my really old tombstone might be of the rumored more substantial construction than the newer ones. DC would be so nice though.

Defective · Sep 12, 2006

Highbeam said:
DC would be so nice though.

Highbeam,

You may like this link...
Google Groups: rec.crafts.metalworking

rdln · Sep 12, 2006

bought new about '95 from quality farm and fleet, rods work great powered on the "grid". Oh well.

5030tinkerer · Sep 13, 2006

Captinjack said:
I've never welded higher than 125 amps on my tombstone and the current draw at that level is mucho below the draw at the full rated 225 amps AC.

I plan on using a 5500 W generator with mine, but haven't had the strength to move the heavy bugger yet. I tried to by a bargain HF unit that they gave me a rain check on, however, they discontinued stocking the welder and my rain check is worthless. They advertised a 80A/160 amp inverter welder for $80 that I was going to use at camp, but struck out. Still looking.

I picked up the 5700W HF cheapee (US General Thunderbolt, item 3708) and made a cord for my Hobart 175 welder - it works great! I really, really wish that the generator had an auto-idle function, though.