Pls Help me identify this welder ...

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Hello everyone and thank you so much in advance for your time.I've always loved to have a welder but never bought one as I have absolutely no clue about them. The other day I was at this yard sale and I saw this DC inverter welder which the woman knew nothing about (same as me) but for 70$ I thought I'll just buy it, but now I'm getting some info from the label on it and I think this is some sort of 3 phase power supply thing.I live in the middle east and the power here, and in my store, is the standard 220v supply with 13A receptacles. So can anyone tell me if I can somehow use this welder in my store? I'll be mainly using it for very light work, just to repair ladders, chairs and stuff like that. Here's some pictures of it...
Reply:looks like chinese junk, that seems to have had better days......mabe an old harbor freight welder...Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Its definitely 3 phase. I'm no expert at reading those labels, but it looks like 415 volts, 3 phase, both 50 or 60 hertz, with a maximum current draw of 29 amps.most of those industrial power type machines are worth almost nothing because very few people can use them. I'm guessing the seller was having a hard time getting any money for it, and that's why they "didn't know anything."there is a very very minute possibility you can rewire it for 220v by changing some jumpers inside the case... it's worth checking for, but I would bet against that on one of these.Sent from my MB865 using TapatalkSynchrowave 250Lincoln WeldPack 180HDPropane torchhandyman's encylopedia collection of all types of toolsJack of all trades, ace of none...
Reply:It's a "boat anchor" why would you buy anything so obviously Chinese made......She should of gave you &35.00 to take it away.......
Reply:You just got taken for $70. There is a sucker born every minute.  Have your own garage sale. maybe you can find the next sucker......Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Product modelZX7-400Rated input voltage AC(V)_______________________(Three-phase 380)Power frequency (HZ)50/60Rated input capacity (KVA)18Output open circuit voltage (V)74±5Current range (A)20-400Thrust current range (A)10-230Start arc current range (A)20-160Rated cyclic duration factor (%)40Weight (kg)27Modelsingle tube IGBTLast edited by akphill; 12-28-2015 at 10:30 PM.trailblazer 302thunderbolt ac dc machine Hobart fluxcoreAHP tig 200x 2015
Reply:Originally Posted by Dan Huygensthere is a very very minute possibility you can rewire it for 220v by changing some jumpers inside the case... it's worth checking for, but I would bet against that on one of these.
Reply:It would make a fine target for my M1A, out in the desert.   Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:DAMNNN     There's a proverb which goes "We're not rich enough to buy cheap things" so I guess I got suckered badly on this  but online prices for these types are around 600$ to 700$ or maybe I made a mistake on my searches.I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your time and advise, I opened it up and and took some more pictures from the insides, in the hope that maybe there's a easy conversion to 1 phase or something. The plug has only 3 wires, shouldn't there be five for 3 phase devices? Also, what if I connect it to my 1 phase receptacle and keep the ARC FORCE knob real low like a 1 or 2? could I use it then with thin metal?Thanks again guys.
Reply:Could be the previous sucker tried to rewire it as single phase.   Also the high failure rates of theses type of machines could be that even if you had correct power, it could still be DOA machine.   Sent from mobile.  Not responsible for TyposTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Kuwait does have 415 VAC 3-phase power available for industrial use.http://www.worldstandards.eu/electri...lectric-power/The welder requires 380 VAC +/- 10%, so 415VAC would work.  If you're near an industrial area, maybe you can get the service.  Different countries have different requirements for utilities.
Reply:I didn't see that you were in Kuwait. You may have a chance.Where do those three wires from the plug go? Presumably all into the power supply. If one of them is grounded, however, you have a REAL oddball.True three-phase power will not require a neutral, as current returns along the next phase leg. However, prudence dictates that the machine should be grounded and that would require a fourth wire -- but the absent ground wire won't keep the machine from running. If there's an internal short-to-ground, though, it could very easily energize the machine case as electricity seeks earth.Three wires would indicate to me you're running a split-phase (mostly common in the US) or single-phase (common outside the US) power source. I'm not sure what that capacitor is doing up top, but it looks fairly beefy and MIGHT be designed to take the place of a third power leg -- I don't know, and I'd need to see electrical schematics of its current wiring to determine (if I could make sense of them).If the machine is designed and wired for three-phase power and you supply it only single-phase, even at low current, you run the very real risk of destroying the machine with a quickness. Single-phasing a machine is very, very bad and unless you have a phase converter you're really rolling the dice.Does it look like the machine still has OEM wiring, or does it appear to have been re-kerjiggered? I don't know that I'll be able to offer any solutions, but this is an interesting question.Put the wire in the fire!Lincoln AC225 | Lincoln ProMIG 140 | AHP AlphaTIG 200x | AHP AlphaCUT 60 | Millermatic 251
Reply:There should be a fourth input wire to ground the case for safety.  The label does state 415 volt 3-phase input.  Looks like Kuwait has 240/415 power, in which case there could be 5 wires (ground included). But you would only be concerned with 3 phases and ground."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:If you could get 415v single phase you could run it off that because most inverters will run off a single phase supply, it will just draw more current per leg so you'd probably need a 50 amp breaker for it. Now given the shape of the welder and the fact that older inverters are known to be failure prone I have my doubts as to wether or not that thing still works anyways.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:Again thanks so much for your golden advise gentleman, I am very much indebted to all of you.I took the case off and took some closer pictures, the 3 core cable goes inside the case and directly into that power supply...Here's a picture of the other side where they enter the power supply...And here's a picture of the other side of the power supply...If this is a definite 3 phase and nothing can be done about it, I have found a DB about 100 meters away (330 feet) which I think is a 3 phase but not sure, here's a picture...So what do I have to do to route a cable from this to my location? what diameter cable do I need to supply enough current? BTW I took it to someone and he tried it out on his 3 phase power and he said it works beautifully smooth and nice.Thank you again.
Reply:Originally Posted by brandonsmashDoes it look like the machine still has OEM wiring, or does it appear to have been re-kerjiggered? .
Reply:That's for sure 3-phase, and there's no provision for ground on the cable.If there's a stud on the inside of the chassis, you'll want to attach a ground cable to that and ground it to earth. While the machine doesn't require a ground to operate, in the event of a short or internal failure the machine will energize the case and potentially zap you.Oh! Hey, look at that! In the third photo you posted yesterday it looks like there's a ground lug on the exterior of the case, just below the fan. Run that to earth and you should be safe and happy golden.Put the wire in the fire!Lincoln AC225 | Lincoln ProMIG 140 | AHP AlphaTIG 200x | AHP AlphaCUT 60 | Millermatic 251
Reply:Originally Posted by brandonsmashOh! Hey, look at that! In the third photo you posted yesterday it looks like there's a ground lug on the exterior of the case, just below the fan. Run that to earth and you should be safe and happy golden.
Reply:That old FPE panel is full. Even still a 3 phase FPE Stab-Lok might be pretty scarce/pricey.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:100 meters of cable will cost many times what you paid for the welder.   Since it welds nicely, best to offer it for sale on-line, maybe double what you paid for it.  Selling it will depend on number of buyers with access to 3 phase.Then start looking for a single phase welder, where the seller can prove that it works.Last edited by bead-boy; 12-30-2015 at 11:31 PM.
Reply:Well that's it than, thank you to all the wonderful folks here, I'll just try to sell it than, but in the meantime I'll keep it near that DB to be able to do small jobs on it. And oh you were very observant Brandon, that is an earth screw on the bottom there.I know I might be pushing my luck here, but if you guys don't mind answering one last question...To find a 3 phase FPE Stab-Lok would be very pricey as "bigb" mentioned already, if you take a look at the picture below, all the switches on the left side are unused, with the last three being a 15A switches, there is also a 50A three gang switch on the right which seems to be the MAIN BREAKER as it turns off the whole store when I turn it off.My question is, can I use the last 3 breaker switches (15A each) on the bottom left to connect to the three cables coming from the welder? or should I be connecting the welder to that 50A three gang breaker?  Thanks again and Wish you all a great year ahead.