110v wire welder and a generator

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I've got a Millermatic 110v wire welder that I'm using flux core wire with. I built my Dad an incline ramp off-site to go from his front porch down to the driveway. I will be moving it over in the next couple of days. I will need to weld a couple of supports onto two metal porch posts to hold the ramp securely once I get it moved over and set up. Just wondering if my Champion 4000 watt generator with 3500 watt start up would power this welder for the two small welds I will need to make ?
Reply:Most likely. 115v @ 20 amps is about 2300 watts. 115v @ 15 amps is about 1750 watts. Depending on your generator, it should be able to supply at least 1700 watts from the outlet. Some genny split the max wattage between the two outlets, so if your max is say 3500 continuous, that's 1750 watts on one outlet. Not max output on the machine, but useable for many things..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:If he has a 20 amp 120 volt circuit, you can run it off of that with at least a 12 gauge extension cord. Just remove anything else from the circuit long enough to do the welds. I have used my Millermatic 140 on a 100' 12 gauge cord with FC wire with no problem from the only 20 amp circuit in my house. An extension cord is easier to load and unload than a generator is. You will always find a use for a good extension cord in the future if you don't already have one, so it is easily justified buying one if you don't have one.
Reply:Before you do it, and to end any speculation, start it up and try it.You will likely find what I did when I experimented. Small generators do not have the ability to provide the inrush current needed. It worked, but the weld was colder than when hooked to the house and the wire feed speed fluctuated.Some have said that higher quality machines than mine (like Honda) did much better. Mine is an older 5000 watt continuous, 6250 watt surge.Use a good extension cord to the house instead.Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 12-29-2013 at 10:18 AM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Make sure generator is in RUN. Meaning you do not want it to ramp up to full run when you start welding. Generator should be running full throttle.
Reply:I tried running my HH140 on a 6500watt gen and my welder wouldnt run for more than a few seconds. It would act like it hit the duty cycle and fan would run but nothing else would happen. After the internal breaker reset it would work again. Only thing we could think of is the gen couldnt supply a steady enough current.HH140---------------------------https://www.facebook.com/brandon.pike.9
Reply:OK thanks guys.... Don't want to burn anything up so I don't think I will even try it..... Definitely will get me a heavy cord though, I think 14ga is what I'm using right now....
Reply:No 14ga. 14ga is only good for a max of 15 amps and a max length of 15 to 20 feet. Your best bet is the shortest 12ga cord you can find that will reach the job.Some of the cheap 14ga cords have wire that looks more like 16ga wire.Use the 14ga to run a drill or grinder.I use 10ga and 12ga extension cords on my 110v mig. I prefer to move the work close to the house, where the welder is pluged into an outlet on my breaker box (no extension cords, no real amount of length of in wall wiring it has to go through).old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:I was racing snowmobiles with the kids last winter. Another kid broke his ski spindle. Another parent has a miller 140 auto set mig and a 3800 watt generator. He was using the generator to power their trailer. We unplugged all hook ups going to the trailer and the generator powered the 140 miller mig just fine. No issues at all.I beveled and welded the ski spindle with flux core wire and the kid was racing in his next race. Never missed a race.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720