Generator for mig?

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looking at buying a hobart handler 190 and looking for a generator to run it. Alot of my welding will be done in the back yard on my truck and my up coming projects(mud truck,dirt car and and anything else) I was just wanting ideas on a good gen. to run this welder. Thanks in advanceChris
Reply:Good Question Chris, I just had a friend ask me today a similar question he has a 5000 watt gen and wants to power a Lincoln 130 mig unit I will be interested to see the replys. Not wanting to steal ur space just curious on the answers.
Reply:No problem power, hopefuly it helps out a few people looking for the same answer.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris92No problem power, hopefuly it helps out a few people looking for the same answer.
Reply:You still wind up needing a CV CC unit. In most cases, the gensets are not qualified for this though they technically do make enough amperage. The issue becomes a voltage drop when you light up the arc. Most units do not have a voltage regulator to ramp up the motor immediately to keep pace with the welder. But let's say that you were going to try. My recommendation would be for the generator to have at least 50-75% overcapacity to the welders' max requirements. So, if a welder needs an input voltage of 220VAC, 30A you will want to have a 7500 watt generator. That's about 70% overcapacity. Remember, the generator shows max output, not it's CV/ CC. There needs to be a large cushion to accept the surge.We tripped a 3000 watt generator with a maxstar 150 every couple of starts. It held up so long as we did not dial in more than 100A on the welder. Trying to run it above 100A tripped the unit almost immedately, and in a few hits, the genset thermalled out and we had to wait 20 minutes for it to come around.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:I've got a 7500 watt gen set. It bogs down on the high end of a lincoln 216. Runs fine on the middle ranges tho. I'd think that would be ideal for a 190 unit. Of course not all generators are equal. Mine is far from top of the line."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Keep in mind small gen sets are usually listed at  surge, not continuous KW. So most "5KW" gen sets usually only put out something like 4KW continuous power.I'd have to agree you would probably need at least a gen set capable of 7KW continuous, if not bigger..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for the input when I was looking I was looking at 10k gen. Give me room to play with and should be able to hook up small things I may need to work with.
Reply:Would it be a bad idea to go to a gen/welder like a ranger 225 then buy a MIG I thought about that option as I wanna learn stick as well and try to get into pipeline welding with the next year or so.
Reply:With the ranger you can do stick, tig, mig or FC wire. All you'd need is the feeder to run wire from it because it's a CV power source..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Is the feeder like the ln 250 (I think its the model) but its a suitcase or is there another way
Reply:An LN 25 would work. I'm not as familiar with Lincolns feeders and the Ranger as I am with the Miller machines. The LN 25 is a voltage sensing feeder, so it will run with an CV capable gas driven welder. I'm pretty sure Lincoln also makes suitcases that need a remote plug. I'd have to dig deeper into the specs on the Ranger and see if it's remote capable or not. With the millers, a remote capable engine drive will run any Miller wire feeder, a shop based remote feeder, or either a VS or remote capable suitcase. There's really almost no difference between  running a feeder on an XMT in the shop, or a remote feeder from say a trailblazer. The down side is that you have to sit and listen to the engine drive howl if you want to do shop work, and you are burning up the life of the engine drive. Shop migs, whether an all in one mig or a power source and feeder combo, are quiet and you will get more hours on the power source usually ( assuming industrial units). The down side is that they are not "portable" if you don't have access to 230v or higher power.You need to look at what you want to do and choose between the options. If most of your work is shop based, then an engine drive might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you are doing portable work, then a genny and separate welder is seldom cost effective unless you already have them. It will cost you more to buy a dedicated mig than it will to buy a used feeder, assuming you are going to power both from the Ranger. You would also get a heavier duty "mig" with more output and duty cycle going with a feeder vs most stand alone migs that would run from the aux output on the Ranger. On the other hand if you need the Ranger for field work, and have the mig for shop use, then it would make sense to use what you already have..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:i've run my HH187 off of my 5500/8250 generator.  never had any problems, even on the upper end of the settings.
Reply:My mobile gen runs everything on my mobile unit. I can use the plasma cutter with the air comp. running, weld while helper is using a grinder, etc.. It has very clean output, so there are no issues with my voltage/current sensitive inverter welders. This is the minimum size I would recommend. This was the highest rated unit for its' size & has filled all my needs handily.Denny Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:That's a good looking set up. I was looking at that gen.
Reply:How would that gen hold up on a stick or tig machine. I don't know if you have ran them on it or not
Reply:Any input on running a stick or tig off a gen with 8000wat continuous and 10000 starting/peak
Reply:I'm pretty sure Denny has a small stick machine he runs from that genny as well as his mig. I'd have to search his older posts to find out if he runs tig from it.I know Boostnjdm here has mentioned he's run his little Maxstar 150 machine off his genny. I think his is the stick only model vs the stick/tig unit. Again I'd have to search out his posts to double check.I know a few guys here have a big enough genset to run transformer stick machines, at least at lower amp ranges, though most that have posted up have used inverter units that need less input power. One thing to watch is that the genny produces clean power if running inverters. Some of the older gennys had an issue blowing boards because the genny output was never designed to run sensitive computer electronics.My genny is a newer one rated for electronics. In a pinch my plan is to run my new  Maxstar 200 from it. I know several guys here have posted up they do portable alum tig using a Dynasty 200 running from the aux power on Bobcats and Trailblazers..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks I'm looking at the generac or a rigid both 10000 starting and 8000 running I want it to be portable for if I'm at the track or something and need work I have it.
Reply:What about a Bobcat or Trailblazer ?  Now you got awesome power and a welder besides .
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1What about a Bobcat or Trailblazer ?  Now you got awesome power and a welder besides .
Reply:Look on your welder for the Spec plate, find the Max amp draw and multiply it times the input voltage that will give you watts needed to run it, ie 120v time 20 amp =2400 watts. So your generator to be efficient would need to be around 3000 or 4000 watts.  Also just so you know some machines, especially some inverters do not run on generated AC.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris92Would it be a bad idea to go to a gen/welder like a ranger 225 then buy a MIG I thought about that option as I wanna learn stick as well and try to get into pipeline welding with the next year or so.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauYou would be money ahead to get one of the engine drive welders, then buy the MIG later, if you also want to learn stick welding too. As mentioned before the Bobcat 250 and the Trailblazer are 10,000 watt generators as well as stick welders, and they have 240 VAC output @ 50 amps. This way you don't have to buy a genset, and then later buy a stick welder to go with the MIG to run off the genset. But none of this equipment is going to get you on a pipeline welding job. If you show up with this to a pipeline job, they will laugh you off the site. You would be lucky if they hired you as a welders helper.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli150 amp rated receptacle but if it only has a 10,000watt genset then only 41.66 amps