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Madness

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Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2498

Posted: 09:34pm 30 Jul 2014

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Just wondering if there is any issues or concerns about running a welder off an inverter. I have a 240 AMP MIG welder (old school non inverter) and a Trace 4.5 KW inverter, mostly I would be welding light gauge steel and >120 Amps. For heavy gauge material I have a 10 KW generator that will power the welder comfortably at full power.

So far I have not attempted running the welder off the inverter as it is a transformer type and I am concerned all that inductance may not be inverter friendly. Would be more convenient than having to start the generator, especially for small jobs. As I have 7 KW of PV panels I am not concerned about battery drawdown.

There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
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Posted: 10:06pm 30 Jul 2014

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Hey Madness

I use my MIG on my 7kw Latronics inverter quite often, for little jobs. For bigger jobs, where I might be welding for several minutes, or its late in the day, I fire up a 6kw generator and use that instead of the inverter. Mainly because my battery bank is small, and I've only got 2.2kW of panels, so I would prefer to save the power for the night.

I would check with the inverter manufacturer just to be safe.

Glenn

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
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Madness

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Joined: 08/10/2011
Location: Australia
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Posted: 10:51pm 30 Jul 2014

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Thanks Glenn,

Unfortunately Trace is not around now but they where taken over by Xantrex, I will give them a try.

As I have got heaps of batteries at scrap price (golf cart batteries) and cheap 2nd hand panels I don't have to worry about drawing down the batteries as they are on float for about half of the day anyway.

Gary

There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

graynomad

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Joined: 21/07/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 122

Posted: 02:00am 28 Sep 2014

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I build an entire motorhome body using a Lincoln 170 off an inverter. Can't remember the brand of inverter now but I also do light welding on my 3300W Trace inverter as well.

EDIT: Crap, I just noticed the age of this thread, oh well the info might be useful in a future search.Edited by graynomad 2014-09-29

Rob Gray, AKA the Graynomad, www.robgray.com

Madness

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Location: Australia
Posts: 2498

Posted: 10:56am 28 Sep 2014

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Hi Graynomad,

Thanks for your input, what is the highest current you have welded with from the Trace inverter?

There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

graynomad

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Joined: 21/07/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 122

Posted: 04:06am 14 Oct 2014

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Sorry for the delay, I never got a notification.

I can't remember now, it was just emergency repairs and TBH I got pretty duck-sh*t welds.

I think the inverter I built the truck with was a 5000W Victron, that had no problems.

These days I use a 24VDC MIG when in the field in the 4x4, that works off two AGM batteries.

Rob Gray, AKA the Graynomad, www.robgray.com

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