[TheForge] Inverters & MIG Welders

[Kathy]

Aubrey,
Generators are always listed by their peak output, and you need to find out what
their sustained output rating is (or just subtract 25% from whatever single
figure is listed). An inverter is going to be different in that what changes
isn't its rated output, but rather its "duty cycle" at that output. Different
types of limit, same overall concern (heat gain).
Mikey

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of toni smith
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 1:57 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Inverters & MIG Welders

best way i can think of is using a special switch device that determines
the charge in your main battery and then when your main battery is fully
charged switches to the secondary. personally i would use deep cycle
batteries for it and not just one but up to 3 or 4 of them. i know
someone who has done similar but then he wasn't running a welder from
it, just regular power tools, laptop and caravan lighting etc.. his
truck was basically a mobile workshop that he used to travel throughout
central Queensland making signs for people.

Toni

Washington, Aubrey O. wrote:
> Paul,
> Thanks for your thoughts.  Nothing about electricity/electronics is too basic
or too obvious for me!  So, you won't insult me by telling me something others
would consider obvious.
>  
> Would there be an advantage to installing a second battery in the truck?  I
assume there are right, wrong, and disastrous ways to do that, too.
>  
> I assume that a 3500 watt generator and an inverter rated at 3500 watts are
different in some important ways.  Can anyone explain to me what those
differences would be?
>  
> Aubrey
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Paul
> Sent: Fri 5/25/2007 9:03 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Inverters & MIG Welders
>
>
>
> While I don't have any direct experience trying to do this, but since no
> one else has offered any advice, I'll take a shot at it.
>
> Some of these points may be obvious, but since you asked, I'll throw out
> everything that I'd consider.
>
> I'm deliberately being imprecise here, just rough numbers to evaluate if
> it's reasonable...
>
> Even at 130 amps, your truck will turn out less than 2 kilowatts of
> sustained electrical power. Since you'll lose some power in the
> inverter, your 115V output will probably be less than 15 amps.
>
> Your battery can probably provide enough additional power for surges, so
> you may get more, but exactly how much, I don't know. Managing your
> welding duty cycle may make this useable, but I'd add a fuse to the
> battery connection so you don't fry your battery.
>
> Next point, you will likely have to connect an inverter this big
> directly to your battery, and use some #6 or heavier wire, ala heavy
> jumper cables.
>
> I'd also expect an inverter this size to be pretty expensive (at least
> by my definition of expensive) so it won't be a cheap experiment.
>
> I think this would be really taxing your truck's electrical system.
> Let's face it, arc welding is pretty close to a dead short, albeit a
> current limited short.  I've been considering a portable setup, but I
> have a 3500 watt generator (4300 kw peak) and I'm hoping that will work...
>
>
> Paul N.
>
>
> Washington, Aubrey O. wrote:
>   
>> Now that I've got my 115V MIG welder ordered (Millermatic 140), I have
another related line of questions for the group.
>>
>> I have a new Toyota Tacoma with the 130A alternator on it.  I've been
considering installing a power inverter on the truck so I can run power tools,
etc.  Here are my questions:
>>
>> Are there any cautions or dangers involved in installing or using inverters?
Can they damage my truck's electrical system in any way?
>> Inverters come in lots of different wattages.  Is bigger always better? 
>> Is it practical to consider running the MIG welder off the inverter?
>>
>> Thanks for any advice or information.
>>
>> Aubrey
>>
>>
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