Miller machine question

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Found a Miller Intellipulse 650 welder and wire feeder on a auction site and wondered what the consenus was on the machine. It belong to a tech school and supposedly was working when replaced. On the site it says it is set up for 3 phase power but can be converted to single phase. Any input would be greatly appreciated. This would be used in my home shop on 220 single phase. Attached ImagesIf you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:do you have the conversion process from 3 to single?  Is this conversion something miller supports? What "site" are you referring to?  If you can get this machine running on your household current, you probably have great welder.  CV and CC means you can run it as a mig machine with the feeder or as a stick machine (or tig with the right add-ons).  I am guessing that it's dc output only...I am not really familiar with this particular power source.  My guess also is that IF you can get this running off single phase, you will have to de-rate the power output substantially...btw, that wire feeder goes on ebay regularly for $250-$500 depending on the features.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o286c_mil.pdfI just looked in the manual, and there is no mention of single phase in the input power.  I know some older 3 phase dc welders can be internally rewired to run off single phase (not easy to do, but I have seen it done), but this power source is pretty complicated...not like a straight up dc power source for stick welding.  Be careful if you plan to make internal modifications.  If this is something you really know will work...then, that's one thing; however, if you are basing the conversion on something that's untested, or that worked on another power source, it could end up being very dangerous.  If the latter is the case, I would seriously consider selling it and getting another power source that will work off single phase and with your feeder.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:It is a government surplus resale site, not ebay. It says it can be converted in the description of the welder but no mention of how to do it. I looked at the same pdf from miller and didn't see anything there either. They also have a Powcon ??? machine for sale but it is also 3 phase. I haven't heard of those before. Maybe I can ask this in the electrical forum. TIAIf you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:Most powcons are 1 and 3 phase.  I have a few.  They make great power sources for the home user.  The 300 series is the most popular.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:By the way the power for the shop where it would live is a 200 amp service, but only single phase. So there should be plenty of power if I could figure out the phase issue.If you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:IF, and that's a big IF, you can figure out how to make that 650 run off single phase, you probably have enough power to run it...the amps it lists for input at 220 is around 100-130, or somthing like that.  You would have to probably tie it directly into the breaker panel or run a 100 amp disconnect or something...I am no electrician...so, keep that in mind.  I would definately check into the conversion process in GREAT detail before attempting ANYTHING.  If you got a good deal on the pair, you might want to pass the good deal on to someone else on the powersource....keep the feeder and get a powcon or some other power source that is rated for single phase.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I just read your other post on the electrical forum...I suppose I thought you had already bought it.  Since I see now that you haven't, I would suggest that you not buy it without SPECIFIC instruction on how to convert it and what its functionality would be after the conversion...In my opinion, the powcon choice is a much safer bet for you and your electrical situation, if it works and is listed as a single and three phase unit.  The sticker on top of the machine should indicate the power options.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Thanks for your help.  I am emailing Miller now to ask the question to the techies there. Maybe they have a conversion kit available.If you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:The POWCON is also a three phase so I don't know that I would be any better off with it if the conversion is not possible.If you are not going to do it right...Why bother?My retreat http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...&albumid=20987
Reply:check just to be sure.  Most of the powcon machines are both...the changeover on them takes about 10 minutes.  However a few are 3-phase-only, but the lable will tell you all you need to know....Get the model and see if you can get a picture of the top of the machine where the lable is.  If it lists a set of single phase settings, it will work on household current.  They only draw about 30-35 amps which is pretty efficient for the output.http://www.arc-products.com/downloads/powcon.pdfThese are the most common models.  There are 3-phase-only versions of some of these, but I have only come across a very few.Last edited by smithboy; 07-09-2006 at 11:35 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.