Wire feeder for Constant Current machine???

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Have any of you guys tried running any of the Voltage sensing wire feeders like the Miller S-32 on a Constant current machine?  I have an old dialarc that I am not using much anymore and was considering if it would be worth hooking a feeder to it and using it as a power source.  I have gotten varying opinions on this, and just thought I would throw it out for comments.  Thanks ~Jackson
Reply:I have exactly that setup.  Dern, we got too much in common.  I have an old Dialarc 250 with a hobart hefty cc/cv.  I also use the suitcase with a powcon 300ss or a 300sm when I am feeling frisky.  Works great for me.  I do more stick that mig, but I liked the results.  The prices for suitcases vary.  Old ones pretty commonly go for around $400-$600, newer ones for $500-$800 on ebay, but you can sneak up on a deal every so often.  The s32 is not a suitcase but is cc/cv.  THe s32 is probably not the best fit, but it will work, or so the reps at miller say.  You wont have a contactor built in, but you will be able to run wire.  In cc mode the wire runs differently than in cv.  I am not sure how to explain it, not bad, just different.  You just have to fiddle with the wire speed for a given amperage.  If you come by carrollton and have that beer, you can try mine out.Last edited by smithboy; 08-08-2005 at 04:05 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I have found that the suitcase units will run great on .945 or larger.  I have not been too successful running .035 hard wire.  I was told it was not practical after the attempt.  If you have a CC feeder it is a geat way to utilize a CC power source especially inside on fab work.  Most field work on trucks is done this way around here.  Stick is still used if you have to drag a stinger up onto some structural but otherwise the wire is so much faster.
Reply:I probably should have said that mostly I use .035 and larger flux core because of being outside mostly.  I have never used my suitcase with gas and solid (steel) wire.  But with flux core, they are dandy, very dandy indeed.  I have, however, used it with .047 aluminum wire/argon and got reasonable results after a good bit of experimentation.  I thought the sensitivity of aluminum was becasue I was using the same liner and rollers with aluminum as with flux core and I was getting wire contamination as it fed.  If what lotechman says is true, maybe this is inherent with cc feeding with solid wire, and not due to contamination.  I will do some more experimenting and post beads using a variety of setups.  DATA COLLECTION!!!  I am a researcher during the day, so it always gets me going when I can get two of my interests together in the same project.... Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.