TIG input/output confusion

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Hello,I am new to the site but have perused many threads with great results.  Excellent site w/ lots of knowledge!!I would like to purchase a TIG for home use but don't understand what my home electrical is able to support.  I would like to get a single unit to use for many years to come without upgrading, with aspirations of "eventually" (after taking courses and building tons of smaller, less critical items) building a chassis and also make aluminum brackets, tinwork, etc.  I currently have 230V w/ a 50 amp breaker in the garage.  I believe 60A will be the max (but not positive).  I have been looking at the Miller sync 200 or Dynasty 200, and the Lincoln Prec 225 or Invertec V205.I assume I am limited to these units based upon my garage elec feed?  It looked like the 250+ units would pull too many amps?Portability is not required so what are the benefits (or pitfalls) of the inverters (Dynasty 200, Invertec 205)?  They seem to require less input Amps but have the same output?  Why wouldn't they offer a non-portable inverter unit for less $$?  I would like to buy a unit without growing out of it in the near future, but don't want to waste money or get a unit my garage can't run.Please help, and don't worry about giving too much basic info.  I'm new and will apprecaite any knowledge.Thanks!
Reply:The inverter units have a more controlled output, and allow you to manipulate the arc in ways that other units can't, because of the digital circuitry involved.  Making inverters portable isn't necessarily a design element, it's a byproduct of doing things digitally.  Input vs output, they are more efficient amp for amp.  IMO, unless you get a great deal on an invertec, I'd pass.  They just can't do what the Dynasty is capable of, and I'm a Lincoln guy for the most part.  A dynasty 200 unit will do everything you're talking about doing.  I've done a fair amount of chassis work with them, welded intercooler tanks, radiator repairs, etc.
Reply:50 0r 60 amps are plenty.  Inverters use less power and produce less heat as a by product of transforming the electricity.  Any of the units listed won't overload your breaker.  Some day all you will see are inverters.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thank you both.  My sales person incinuated that they are the same machine, just one is more portable.  Conversely, the Dynasty 200DX exceeds all specs of the Syncrowave 200, correct?  So the Dynasty 200DX would also not require a water cooler as a result of its efficiency?  I don't imagine I will ever be welding something that thick for long periods anyhow, right?Next, it appears as though the Dynasty kit does not come with a lot of the equip required to use immediately.  why no remote controls?   Is it not typical to use the foot control?Is this the ground cable? --> 14-pin amphenol with clampWhat do you do to hold the bottle with a portable unit like this?  Is there a stand designed just for these? Thanks Again.
Reply:You can look for a 'kit' for the dynasty or Lincoln, or HTP units. They put out 200 amps peak power, but their input is ony 30A breaker, with a max draw of about 24-26amps as I have seen with my Lincoln invertec 205. I bought a different torch, a water cooled one, and built a water cooler for it. You will not likely need water cooling on steel, but for aluminum at 200amps, you are going to need it. Your first project is a welding cart for the unit and the bottle!!!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:Building the cart sounds very logical.I believe I found the kit, too.  It looks like I would need the Inverter, and also the contractor kit.  I was expecting to pay around $2k but all of the sudden it is looking like $4k.  I may have to rethink this.Would the foot control or hand control be more practical for automotive fabrication?Also, it looks like there are several torches available, albeit only one option for the "kit".  At first glance, the torches w/ the canted head appear to be much more practical than the 90 degree unit for chassis engineering.  Agree?Also, thanks again for all of the help.  I have been seaching the mfg sites for quite a while, and the sales guy in town has not been helpful.  I have learned more in the last 1 hour here, than I have in weeks of research.
Reply:Inverters are the future, and the present, for those with the money to afford them.   I recently brought home an old (about 25 years old) Dialarc HF from my job that must weigh about 500 lbs and takes up about 4' x 3' x 2' of space in the garage.   It's a tank.  It takes about 100 amps of 240v to run it up to max power.   It still works fine despite it's age.  I also have a Thermal Arc 185 ACDC that weighs about 40 lbs, takes up less than 2 cu ft of space, uses only about 40 amps of power at max and has many times more features than the behemoth Dialarc has.  It wont go up to 300 amps like the big machine will, but then again, I rarely have a need for that much power.   The inverter machine cost me about $3000 with the cooler, torch, etc.  The Dialarc cost me only 10% of that with everything needed to weld, even watercooled, including a few boxes of tungstens, a few tubes of filler rod, and a few boxes of stick electrodes too.   For the most part, both machines can do the same jobs....MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Sh1fterBuilding the cart sounds very logical.I believe I found the kit, too.  It looks like I would need the Inverter, and also the contractor kit.  I was expecting to pay around $2k but all of the sudden it is looking like $4k.  I may have to rethink this.Would the foot control or hand control be more practical for automotive fabrication?Also, it looks like there are several torches available, albeit only one option for the "kit".  At first glance, the torches w/ the canted head appear to be much more practical than the 90 degree unit for chassis engineering.  Agree?Also, thanks again for all of the help.  I have been seaching the mfg sites for quite a while, and the sales guy in town has not been helpful.  I have learned more in the last 1 hour here, than I have in weeks of research.
Reply:Their contractor kit comes with DB1725R torch kit which looks like it is a 150a mp fixed unit w/ 25' cables.  Why 150A?  Wouldn't the Dynasty 200 require the 26 series 200A unit.  Do the 26/200A units get bulky?Which flex unit from weldcraft would be optimal for the Dyn200DX?  I should be able to get the miller contractors Kit and just change the head to a flexible style, correct?
Reply:Originally Posted by Sh1fterTheir contractor kit comes with DB1725R torch kit which looks like it is a 150a mp fixed unit w/ 25' cables.  Why 150A?  Wouldn't the Dynasty 200 require the 26 series 200A unit.  Do the 26/200A units get bulky?Which flex unit from weldcraft would be optimal for the Dyn200DX?  I should be able to get the miller contractors Kit and just change the head to a flexible style, correct?
Reply:I just got the Dynasty 200 DX with the contractors kit and it is awesome.  Well worth the investment.  It has so much control and the pulser function rocksTrailblazer 302 AirpakDynasty 200 DX  Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52 CamoMiller Dailarc 250 OLD But great!!2 Miller 140's w/autoset NEW! Millwauke Cold cut sawsDewalt portabandJd2 notcherPipe beveling machine
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloThat is the air cooled torch. It is a 150 amp, or the big one, which is a 300 amp torch. Just spend the extra money up front, get a wp20 torch, and get the water cooler or build one right out of the gate. Don't bother with a flex head. The WP20 is a small torch body. it will go where no air cooled torch will ever get to.
Reply:Originally Posted by FluxI just got the Dynasty 200 DX with the contractors kit and it is awesome.  Well worth the investment.  It has so much control and the pulser function rocks
Reply:Originally Posted by Sh1fterI'd love to get the WP20 & cooler but definitely don't have the extra $900.  I'll have to do without that for a while.