Inverter welders, reliability issues?

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I am quite interested in replacing my fairly old Lincoln 180 stick welder vintage 1960 with a AC/DC TIG (because I am intrigued by it and want to learn it) and a stick welder that has DC capability. Judging from what I have read here and elsewhere, there does seem to be some reliability issues with the inverters. Have any of you found this to be accurate?  I also notice that Millers competitive comparision mentions that the Lincoln  Invertec 205 is mediocre at 6010 performance. What can be so different in DC mode that would cause this to be the case? I am interested in Thermal ArcMaster 185, Miller Dynasty 200 or Lincoln Invertec.
Reply:I'm not sure what the differences would be that would prevent down-graded 6010 performance, but I traded in my "one headache-after-another" Miller 180SD for a TA-185 AC-DC ArcMaster and find it to be a fantastic machine.  I did have a small problem with the display board (not the inverter electronics) which was rectified very quickly by the factory through my LWS.  I am very pleased with the product and service.
Reply:I have 5 inverter machines, all used in business, more than occasional hobby use.  They are, Millermaitc Passport and 350P migs, XMT and PowCon multi-process machines and a Thermal Arc 185 tig.  They have all been very good machines.  I don't regret buying any of them and am happy with all.  When I upgrade my TA185, it will likely be with another Thermal Arc, a 300 next time.  If I were to upgrade the XMT or replace PowCon, it would be with another later model XMT, with more power and features.  If I upgrade the Millermatic 175 (not an inverter), it will likely be with another Passport (inverter).  I'm not afraid of circuit boards and technology at all.  I do have older transformer and non-inverter machines too that work very well that I am also happy with. Dialarc tig/stick, Bobcat engine drive and HTP mig.   Each machine type has it's purpose and benefits.  If you buy a quality made machine, likely you won't have problems.  If you buy a quality machine from a good company that stands behind their product, likely you won't have problems getting it fixed if it does break.  If you buy a cheap inverter from an unkown company from across the globe, good luck.As for your query about the Thermal Arc and Dynasty ac/dc tigs, I looked at the Dynasty 200SD/DX, Thermal Arc 185 and 200 Arc Master ACDC's, Lincoln Invertec 205 and HTP Invertig 201.  They are all inverters with similar features and output.  The Dynasty is set apart by virtue of it's ability to run on 110v power.  I did not need that ability at the time I bought my machine, but I sometimes wish for it now, since I do use the TA for mobile work some times and there are occasions where it would be nice to be able to plug it in to 110v power.  The Dynasty can also run on 3-phase as well as 460v power, but neither of those were of interest to me.  The Dynasty cost about $1000 more than the TA185 at that time and with all the same features on each machine, good reviews for both of them, both very reputable companies with lots of other quality products, similar size/weight and breaker/circuit size requirements, the only real difference to me was 15 extra amps of output for the Dynasty, which was not worth 1000 bucks to me.The TA200 was about $500 more than the TA185 and it only offered 2 additional capabilities which were, 15 more amps of output and the ability to run on 3-phase power.  I didn't need to run it on 3-phase and the 15 amps wasn't worth an additional 500 bucks to me, especially since both machines have the same duty cycle, only the max outputs are different.  I don't regret not buying the 200.  I do regret not buying the 300, but the 300 was not in the budget at that time.The Invertig 201 from HTP was a very unknown machine to me and most everyone I asked about it.  It is Italian made and supposedly of good quality.  I have owned my HTP mig since I bought it new around 1993 and I know HTP to be a good company to deal with in customer service.   Most of the pertinent aspects of the machine were similar to the Dynasty, TA and Lincoln.  I just wasn't sure about it's long term reliability and if HTP would still be servicing the machine years from now.  HTP makes their own mig welders here in the US and has for a long time.  The Invertig is an import that they do not make themselves.  As well, the price was a bit lower, but not low enough to sway me from the other machines.The Lincoln was right near in price to the Dynasty with no real advantages over the other machines.  So I eliminated the Miller and Lincoln on price and the HTP on unfamiliarity and went with the TA185 for the best combination of factors, for me.  I'm quite happy with it and do not regret buying it at all.  I've had it since 2005/6 and it is my main tig in the shop and on the truck.Last edited by DesertRider33; 10-21-2010 at 08:36 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:What is the duty cycle rating for the TA 185 ?  I'm shopping for an AC/DC tig around this capacity or maybe a bit bigger and have been quite surprised at how short some of the duty cycles are.thanksGlen
Reply:Originally Posted by worntornWhat is the duty cycle rating for the TA 185 ?  I'm shopping for an AC/DC tig around this capacity or maybe a bit bigger and have been quite surprised at how short some of the duty cycles are.thanksGlen
Reply:I am completely happy with the machine I have but it is DC only and I would like to start tig welding aluminium.  I'll hang onto this little mutifunction Everlast because it is easily portable, does plasma, stick and tig plus runs on 110v or 220.For the aluminium I'm looking at a variety of machines that are out there up to 300 amp size.  There are some very good deals available right now on used machines, but duty cycle is critical.
Reply:I forget what the duty cycle is on my TA185 but I can tell you that I run the poor thing wide open on aluminum all the time and it's never shut down from thermal overload.  I don't know how the small machine does it, but it just keeps on welding no matter how long the joint is.  I'm very impressed with it.You can look up specs on the TA on their website, www.thermalarc.comMM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I know the duty cycle blows away the duty cycle of any thing I have. I don't have the sophisticated equipment that blows a fuse or opens up a thermal type breaker, I have the stuff where the arc just starts falling apart. It does not matter if its my old iron core Lincoln 180 AC stick welder or my Millermatic 90, they let me know via the sound, the light output and of course the weld when they are getting tired. I tripped out my Millermatic 90 once doing .035 fluxcore with a 30 amp breaker. I thought I destroyed the little guy. After 30 minutes it came back on doing the same thing it did before. Thanks for the input guys, I routinely weld at anywhere from 80 to 150 amps on my old stick welder. I got certified with 6010 and miss using that rod. My old Lincoln 180A AC cannot deal with it.  Originally Posted by DesertRider33I forget what the duty cycle is on my TA185 but I can tell you that I run the poor thing wide open on aluminum all the time and it's never shut down from thermal overload.  I don't know how the small machine does it, but it just keeps on welding no matter how long the joint is.  I'm very impressed with it.You can look up specs on the TA on their website, www.thermalarc.com
Reply:My Lincoln Invertec 205 has been a flogged mule, and held up to WFO 200A tig welding on aluminum for days on end. Overheated the liquid cooled torch, melted the air cooled unit, but the welder itself was unimpressed by my assaults. I am still blown away by it's efficiency and toughness. I have used the Dynasty, and it's great also. I have heard repeated good things about the TA 185 also.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Originally Posted by RaT I got certified with 6010 and miss using that rod. My old Lincoln 180A AC cannot deal with it.
Reply:to me the main reason to get an inverter is space & available power & efficiency. if I was to get a tig for just the shop then I would probably look for a big old transformer tig at a great price & that used machine may still last forever. but, for what would otherwise be a giant heavy power hungry behemoth, I instead picked up a tiny little dynasty 200dx. I can take it back & forth easily even in a normal small car without much trouble at all it's a sweet little machine that works well & I love the fact that I can use it anywhere at all & can do so much with it. I can do everything from stick weld heavier frames & trailers at 200amps on 220 at the shop or I can tig weld a fair amount of steel & aluminum at home on a normal 110v outlet. at 220 the tig is awesome but it does also work well at even 110v.  if this didn't matter & add value then for ~1/3 the price you can get an equivalent or stronger transformer machine for much less. I wasn't as concerned about duty cycle because to get much more than a machine like this can provide then the machine wouldn't even fit the way I wanted to use it in the first place so it wasn't a matter of choosing duty cycle as much as accepting the duty cycle it comes with, 60% at 150a isn't bad to me for what it is     .miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:60% @ 150 sounds pretty decent compared to just 15% @ 185 (Lincoln 185 precision TIG)The Lincoln 185 duty cycle rating is so low it almost seems useless. Perhaps in reality the welder can handle quite a bit more than this.  I'll see if I can look up the duty cycle for the Invertec Rojo mentioned. I can't imagine it is 100% @ 200 amps as you were running it and yet it withstood that........ maybe a used welder aint such a great idea...
Reply:Have you looked at the Everlast units? I just got a 250EX a few weeks ago and I'm liking it so far. 60% @ 250amps. 1/3 the price of a Dynasty 200, great customer service, 5 year exchange warranty. They also have their own section on this board. Their web site is http://www.everlastgenerators.com/Millermatic 251Spectrum 300 PlasmaEverlast PowerTig 250EXEverlast PowerCool W300Harris / Victor OACraftsman 13 Speed Drill PressProTools Air/Hydraulic Bender48" BrakeCompressor, Notchers, Grinders, etc.
Reply:What kind of amperage are you looking at?The inverters utilize power better than the older gensets.Something you want to check when buying a new unit, it is an issue of IGBT's vs Mosfet units and you have to find your preference, manufacturers are going with the IGBT's because they will still function if one fails out of a bank, mosfets won't.However mosfet's switch faster.I picked out a damaged Mosfet machine for my winter project (a cnc plasma table) because it is easy for me to repair the mosfet myself, their are shops out their that will just replace the mosfet itself or IGBT itself so repairs costs are not a horror story."Compared to IGBTs, MOSFETs switch faster, have lower losses at lower current levels, and don't suffer from latch-up. However, they cannot withstand the high voltages that IGBTs can and at extremely high current levels, the voltage drop across the MOSFET source-drain resistance can be higher than the gate-emitter diode voltage drop of the IGBT resulting in more losses at these extremely high current levels. But these current levels are so damn high in the first place that it's mostly theoretical. IGBTs can also suffer from thermal run away while MOSFET source-drain resistance increases with temperature reducing snowballing temperature-current increases. For the same reason, it is easier to parallel MOSFETs than IGBTs because the current is more apt to balancing itself out between devices (connecting like connecting resistors in parallel rather than connecting diodes in parallel).It basically comes down to voltage ratings. MOSFETs can only withstand to about 600V while IGBTs can go up to about 1400V. SInce you are using higher voltages you also need less current for the same amount of power which means if you use an IGBT, you are probably working at very high voltages which means less current and the diode vs resistance loss advantage that the IGBT has over the MOSFET is probably something you will never encounter where the IGBT has less losses than the MOSFET."
Reply:the TA185 is a great little tig machine.  But its not the best stick weldor.  my XMT runs stick 5x better than the 185, expecially out of position.XMT 350 MPa, w/D52-DTA 185 TSWHarris of
Reply:Here are some duty cycle numbers taken from the various manufacturer's websites;TA 185    30% @ 185 amps TIGInvertec 205  40% @ 200 amps TIGMiller Dynasty 200  20% @ 200 amps TIGthen there was the Lincoln 185 Precision TIG mentioned previously - just 15% @ 185 amps TIG.I don't think any of these numbers is gonna do it for me , but a large used transformer machine certainly would:Miller Synchrowave 350   60% @ 300 amps TIG.Or, if buying new, the Everlast 250 EX  with 60% @ 250 amps would do a lot.This is a shop welder only, so there is no need for portability and I have 480 volt three phase if needed. I'm going to look at some more large used machines.While looking at used welders on Ebay I came across this item;http://tinyurl.com/28qgzjxIf you read thru the description it is about as bad as it can get with an inverter welder; a very expensive little welder that would probably cost more to fix than it is worth. Perhaps the 20% Duty cycle was exceeded on a few occasions or...?Last edited by worntorn; 10-22-2010 at 10:27 AM.
Reply:Most of the older transformer tigs are single phase, but can run on 208, 230 or 460 by changing jumper connections inside the machine.  Very rare to find a 3-phase transformer tig in the older models.  If you have 100 or more amps of single phase 230v power, the older shop tigs are by far the best $$ deal if you're looking for high power output.  Syncrowaves have the ac balance control, whereas Dialarcs and basic Idealarcs dont.  You won't have  frequency, pulse, slope, hot start, etc to play with on the older shop tigs like you do with inverters and you may have to set the high frequency point gap, but the older machines can still weld aluminum fine.The owner of the broken Dynasty in the ebay auction you linked to made some posts here about the machine.  Either those bidders know something we don't, or they're just plain crazy.  I can't believe the price is over $800 on a machine in that unknown fried condition.Last edited by DesertRider33; 10-22-2010 at 10:47 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by sjamesthe TA185 is a great little tig machine.  But its not the best stick weldor.  my XMT runs stick 5x better than the 185, expecially out of position.
Reply:One of the older transformer machines I have been looking at is the Hobart Cybertig.A friend has one of these, 300 amp. with hot start and pulse. Not sure if it has AC balance tho.Here is one for sale on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Hobart-CyberTig-...item4390311304This one is  3 phase. From the description "no control" it needs some fixin.Duty cycle 100% @ 300 amps, now that is a duty cycle!Last edited by worntorn; 10-22-2010 at 11:08 AM.
Reply:Of the three welders, Miller Dynasty 200, Lincoln Invertec 205 and the Thermadyne Thermal Arc 185, can anyone comment on the comparability of the DC stick performance? Sounds as though the 185 is OK, the Lincoln website says its OK but not excellent via the circle, square, triangle chart  and Miller mentions that their Dynasty is excellent with regards to stick using 60XX rod.
Reply:Not having experience stick welding with the Dynasty 200 and just going on what others who have stick welded with them have said, I would go with the Dynasty over the TA for stick.  I've used Dynasty 300DX's, a Dynsasty 350 and a TA 300 on aluminum tig.  If I were buying a new 300 amp inverter acdc tig today, it would be the TA 300.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:thanks 7A749, will heed the warning.I wasn't going to buy a broken one for $1500, my friend bought his a few years ago for $600 in working condition.His is one generation older and he has had no problems with it to date, although usage is only a few hours per month.
Reply:Originally Posted by worntorn60% @ 150 sounds pretty decent compared to just 15% @ 185 (Lincoln 185 precision TIG)The Lincoln 185 duty cycle rating is so low it almost seems useless. Perhaps in reality the welder can handle quite a bit more than this.  I'll see if I can look up the duty cycle for the Invertec Rojo mentioned. I can't imagine it is 100% @ 200 amps as you were running it and yet it withstood that........ maybe a used welder aint such a great idea...
Reply:Hi Folks, I'm new to this forum and would like some advice. I am considering buying a Tig welder to weld light gauge aluminium or stainless steel. I understand that I will need a machine with AC/DC capability for welding aluminium. I have searched the Net and have come across many high spec machines with lots of features like square wave adjustment pulse control etc. I am working on a fairly tight budget and while I would like to purchase a machine like the Everlast Power Pro 250 the price is prohibitive. I see that there are similarly specked Chinese machines available at about a third of the price of the Everlast? Checking out the feedback on e-Bay in relation to one of the suppliers the feedback seems very encouraging (RSWELD)? Have any forum members experienced any difficulties with reliability or any other issues with these Chinese manufactured machines? Your advice or experiences would be very much appreciated.
Reply:burnt fingers,As it pertains to welding machines, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.I'd rather put my money in lottery tickets than I would in Chinese welders.Contrary to the beliefs of many "newbie welders", you don't need all those "bells and whistles" that you mentioned.  That BS is coming from a bunch of guys who "DON'T KNOW HOW TO TIG WELD IN THE FIRST PLACE".Look carefully at the name brand used market.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.Originally Posted by burnt fingersHi Folks, I'm new to this forum and would like some advice. I am considering buying a Tig welder to weld light gauge aluminium or stainless steel. I understand that I will need a machine with AC/DC capability for welding aluminium. I have searched the Net and have come across many high spec machines with lots of features like square wave adjustment pulse control etc. I am working on a fairly tight budget and while I would like to purchase a machine like the Everlast Power Pro 250 the price is prohibitive. I see that there are similarly specked Chinese machines available at about a third of the price of the Everlast? Checking out the feedback on e-Bay in relation to one of the suppliers the feedback seems very encouraging (RSWELD)? Have any forum members experienced any difficulties with reliability or any other issues with these Chinese manufactured machines? Your advice or experiences would be very much appreciated.
Reply:i have no complaints after 3 years with my ta185.  my ranger runs 6010 better  but other than that its wonderful.. i suspect some of the reported inverter  problems come from the machines portability  translate it gets thrown around...