Which Welder/200Amp Service/ Questions!

admin

Hey dudes and dudettes,I got a cluster of questions. I hope i stuck this thread in the right place. First things first, I graduated from SUNY Delhi with an Associates in Welding Technology. Before Delhi, i knew NOTHING about welding, the only exposure i had with the trade was once, welding an exhaust pipe on my gokart with a 115V fluxcore Mig welder. After Delhi, I have 7 different A.W.S certs ( 7018 1,2,3,4G/ 6010 1,2G, GTAW 1,3G, FluxCore 1,2,3,4G. All on 3/8th thick mild steel with 22.5Degree bevels. I tried the NYS D.O.T 3 times, and failed. ANYWAYS... I want to begin welding in my garage, and keep up on my skills. I am( more then likely) going to a Structural Welder at Metro North Railways in southwest CT somewhere. I also have a HUGE passion for mountain biking. DOWN the road i would love to make some homemade downhill frames, first frames out of cromoly steel, then working on my skills to create an AL downhill frame.My house has the oldschool 100 AMP service. the only 230V outlet we have is for the dryer and they are 30 amp fuses.Me and my Dad agreed that we need to upgrade, to a 200 AMP service, and get a 230V outlet in the garage.Now, I need to know what welder i want so the electrician knows how many amps im sucking from the wall. I want to have a 230V GTAW/SMAW Welder. Semi portable (-100pounds) Footpedal( no finger wheel ) AC capability for welding AL, some adjustments maybe like postflow, preflow, high freq so i dont have to strike the tungsten for starting. all for around a grand! (seriously)i hope im not talking out of my @ss, and hopefully the price range can be correct. i was thinking of a Miller Diversion. thanks alot guysJordan
Reply:From what I've been reading, the sub-200 amp inverter welders will run just fine on a 40 amp circuit. Diversion would probably do fine on a 30. However, since you're redoing things, I'd just go with a 50 amp circuit and be done with it. A 50 amp will support a nice plasma cutter, 200 amp mig welder, or a 200 amp tig. Set up a 50A circuit with the standard 3-prong 50A plug and you can stick almost anything you want in it.The soldering toys pay for the welding toys.Hakko 928 dual iron, 4xHakko 936Madell 850D Hot Air SMT ReworkMiller 252, HTP Invertig 201 AC/DC, and a Hypertherm 45.
Reply:I agree, 50 amp 240v circuits are what i use in the shop and they power all the machines listed in my sig, except the Dialarc, which is a 100 amp machine, but it does run at half power on 50 amps.  I don't know that you really need to upgrade to 200 amp service, but if you can then great, you'll be able to run multiple machines at once, if needed.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:" I don't know that you really need to upgrade to 200 amp service, "really? the only 230V outlet i have, as said before, is the plug for the Dryer. I could do an "extension cord" type of deal, but i think the fuse is only 30 amps. is 30 amp enough?
Reply:Well, the Diversion is rated at 23A input on max setting. However, it comes with the NEMA 6-50A plug (same one my Miller 252 has on it). So yes, it'd work on a 30A circuit with just a plug adapter.The soldering toys pay for the welding toys.Hakko 928 dual iron, 4xHakko 936Madell 850D Hot Air SMT ReworkMiller 252, HTP Invertig 201 AC/DC, and a Hypertherm 45.
Reply:Why not just put an outlet in the garage and leave the 100 amp service? Don't get me wrong, upgrading to 200 amp service might be needed (I don't know what all you have for electric applicances in your house)..  But, if you can save a bunch of money by not upgrading your panel, you could put that saved money into your welding equipment..Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:Originally Posted by Joscerb55" I don't know that you really need to upgrade to 200 amp service, "really? the only 230V outlet i have, as said before, is the plug for the Dryer. I could do an "extension cord" type of deal, but i think the fuse is only 30 amps. is 30 amp enough?