James

admin

Got a general question, can I use a Hobart Stickmate LX 235 with a Champion Power Equipment™ 3500W/4000W Portable Generator from tractor supply as my power source?
Reply:It is highly unlikely - small stick welders like that use power very inefficiently - and that generator would only output about 15 amps at 230v.That small amount of power on tap leaves none for the high inrush current.Even from a wall outlet of 30 amps they won't give you much.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:Lincoln rates their AC/DC stick machine with similar input specs as needing a 15KW gen set. you'll probably have to get up in the 10-12 KW range before you start to get any usable output out of the machine..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:Years ago when I first got into this business I tried that using a 6000W generator and it didn't go too well.  I was able to establish an arc using 3/32 electrodes but there wasn't enough current to get any kind of good bead going.  Cold welds, unstable arcs and a hard learned lesson are all I got out of it.
Reply:I don't know the specifications of your welder. I do know those generators. They are overrated. They won't live very long under max load. That said I had a very heavy twin cylinder Kohler stationary generator I used to power a MillerMatic  252 at half power. It performed well.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:The simple answer is no.
Reply:Thanks, you guys answered my question.
Reply:Originally Posted by baileyjThanks, you guys answered my question.