Kill two birds with one stone

[Mighty Dodge]

I have an old Lincoln G8000 welder/8000 watt generator. It's got a 16hp Briggs Vangaurd and burns just about a gallon an hour. I'ts come in mighty handy during extended power outages. Ran it four days during Isabel. It won't run the entire house but keeps the necessities going. I have an electric hot water heater, if I need to warm it up I turn off the breakers to the freezer, fridge and well pump. Once it heats up I turn off the water heater breaker and turn everything else back on. There are only two things that wont run off the generator, that's my new washer and dryer, everything else, tv, computer, microwave etc. runs fine.

John

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I think it's a myth that electronic devices require clean sine wave power. The first thing electronic power supplies do is change the power to DC. A laptop has an external power adapter that puts out DC to the computer. Other computers have an internal power supply that changes the power to DC, then to high frequency AC, then back to DC of various voltages. I've run many electronic devices on an inverter that puts out a modified square wave. The only thing you wouldn't want is large voltage spikes, but a generator shouldn't do that anyway. Do some research on it to satisfy yourself.

It's NO myth...if you want to watch your electronics smoke, go put them on a dirty sine wave generator.

 

[yomax4]

Mark is correct..If you are not worried about running sensitive pieces of equipment like computers off of a generator, You have research to do. I would enjoy watching a lap top pluged into a lowly Hobart/Miller engine drive. 1st thing to go is the power module on the laptop cord. Poof!!!Then the motors inside would default. Don't do it. An inverter is one thing.. An engine drive welder is another.

 

[Whitnel]

I'm assuming this is used? The only 10KW Gen/Welder from Hobart I've seen is $3300+ new.

Assuming that it is in good working condition I would jump all over that.

Yes, it is used with 100 hours on it. The price does seem low to me as well.

 

[Whitnel]

Mark is correct..If you are not worried about running sensitive pieces of equipment like computers off of a generator, You have research to do.

Would having those sensitive devices behind a UPS make a difference? I know it would not filter the power but did not know if it would change anything?

 

[Oliver1655]

As you start welding, if you are like most of us, you find more & more things to build / modify / repair. An electric welder is much cheaper to run, quieter, & is able to be used inside.

Used AC stick welders are easy to find used for less than $150.

Harbor Freight has a 7 kilowatt generator on sale regularly for $600. This generator uses around 1/2 gallon of gas per hour vs 1 gallon per per hour for a welder/generator combo.

By having 2 smaller unit versus 1 larger one, they would be easier to move around & store. While the welder / generator combination is a good price, will it be a real bargain if it causes more to purchase & operate? To me not unless you need to have mobile welding capabilities.

 

[pwright]

Would having those sensitive devices behind a UPS make a difference? I know it would not filter the power but did not know if it would change anything?

Not really. A good power filter would smooth out the transients but you are still talking about a modified sine wave output and that is hard on some electronics. Some chargers for battery powered tools are particularly sensitive.

 

[bigdeano]

Mark is correct..If you are not worried about running sensitive pieces of equipment like computers off of a generator, You have research to do. I would enjoy watching a lap top pluged into a lowly Hobart/Miller engine drive. 1st thing to go is the power module on the laptop cord. Poof!!!Then the motors inside would default. Don't do it. An inverter is one thing.. An engine drive welder is another.

To each his own. I've run everything in my house for days on my 10KW generator. My laptop power adapter says 100 to 240v 50 to 60hz. A generator can't hold that tolerance? Must be the worst one ever built. Someone should put a scope on it and see what it looks like. It can't possibly be worse than a square wave from an inverter.

 

[yomax4]

I'm not sure what you have for a generator and I am speaking of past problems with my Lincoln ranger 8.. It runs pumps, Lights, Furnace and a couple lights. it did however burn up a grinder a lap top and a battery charger. That is the basis of my replies. If your generator is more pure or even different, Good for you.

 

[deereman75]

To each his own. I've run everything in my house for days on my 10KW generator. My laptop power adapter says 100 to 240v 50 to 60hz. A generator can't hold that tolerance? Must be the worst one ever built. Someone should put a scope on it and see what it looks like. It can't possibly be worse than a square wave from an inverter.

Send me the gnerator, and I will put one of my scopes on it. I havea nice tektronix just begging to be used.
I might do some testing in the form of hooking up a scope to a selection of old gensets.... See how bad they really are..... LOL