Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

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Heyooooo! This Saturday I am going to pick up a Powcon 300 ST. It doesn't have any leads. What other brand tigs will fit this machine? And have no experience with this brand, are they good with tig? I'm assuming it's a DC machine. Can it run 6010?Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:I'm trying to figure out how to add pics but I'm on my iphone and seem to figure it out.
Reply:From a manual I found here: https://arconweld.com/custom/Powcon_...00ST/300ST.pdfLooks like they might be fitted with Tweco, Dinse or Cam-Lock connectors.  Without seeing the machine I can't say which it has, but all you need to do is find a tig torch that has the correct size DINSE connector (if its fitted with dinse - there's only 2 sizes) or an adapter to go from Tweco or Cam-Lock to DINSE to fit most tig torches from Weldcraft, Miller, Esab, etc.
Reply:Not the greatest pics but it's all he sent me.Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:Unfortunately none of those pictures show the place where the torch needs to connect to
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Reply:Originally Posted by JeffvadorHeyooooo! This Saturday I am going to pick up a Powcon 300 ST. It doesn't have any leads. What other brand tigs will fit this machine? And have no experience with this brand, are they good with tig? I'm assuming it's a DC machine. Can it run 6010?
Reply:Mine takes the large Tweco ends. I don't recall having issues with 6010 but 7018 burns fine. I never made a direct plug TIG set up. I use a scratch start with a gas valve in the torch.  Yes. They are a good TIG machine. You sound excited but I would be concerned with the amount of filth in the machine. Look at the fan and front air screen. You may want to open it up and take a look before buying. Round up some leads and a plug. Try it before you buy it. Inverters and dirt don't go well together. Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:Originally Posted by DanD78Mine takes the large Tweco ends. I don't recall having issues with 6010 but 7018 burns fine. I never made a direct plug TIG set up. I use a scratch start with a gas valve in the torch.  Yes. They are a good TIG machine. You sound excited but I would be concerned with the amount of filth in the machine. Look at the fan and front air screen. You may want to open it up and take a look before buying. Round up some leads and a plug. Try it before you buy it. Inverters and dirt don't go well together. Dan D.
Reply:I wish I knew exactly which tweco ends to buy, amazon has sooo many haha.
Reply:If he wants to sell it bad enough he will find a way for you to test it.  With out testing the price should be dirt cheep.  No more than a couple hundred bucks.  Ask the guy about his back ground and where the machine came from.  Seems fishey he has no way to demo the machine.  Don't be afraid to low ball him or walk away.Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:Originally Posted by DanD78If he wants to sell it bad enough he will find a way for you to test it.  With out testing the price should be dirt cheep.  No more than a couple hundred bucks.  Ask the guy about his back ground and where the machine came from.  Seems fishey he has no way to demo the machine.  Don't be afraid to low ball him or walk away.Dan D.
Reply:Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger and got it! The guy told me he bought it from a friend that got layed off about 4 years ago. And just never plugged it in. He have me about 60 ft of lead to go with it and it has some quick connects. So now I have something to go by when I buy some new connectors. I'm about to pop it open and clean it up real good!
Reply:Im trying to wire this thing up. The plate says its wire for 460 with a 4 wire cord. Im only set up for 3 wire. How do I go about converting this thing over?Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:Look at the manual.  If its anything like other powcons there's a couple bus bars you've got to switch and maybe a capacitor board that needs to have bolts removed, rotated and reinstalled so the correct voltage label is at the top.  As for single vs 3 phase you pick 2/3 of the connections going into the power switch and hook your wires for your L1/L2 to those, and hook your ground to where its currently connected.  If you picked right the unit will power on, if you picked wrong move to a different 2/3 connections on that switch and try again until unit powers up.
Reply:It works!!!! After ready the manually like 8 times, I finally started understanding what I needed to do to convert it from 460 to 230. I put a new male outlet on it and BAM!!! It turned on and sounds beautiful. Now I have to order a few male and female tweco connectors. Can't wait to use it. I may make a step by step tutorial on converting it.Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:There are always two places to make changes for line voltage. One behind the front panel and one in the back. The one in front is 4 studs and one or two links.The one in back is either a pcb with lots of screws or a set of links just like the front.Depends on model welder. Should also be instructions on yellow plastic sheet inside case.
Reply:Originally Posted by ccawgcThere are always two places to make changes for line voltage. One behind the front panel and one in the back. The one in front is 4 studs and one or two links.The one in back is either a pcb with lots of screws or a set of links just like the front.Depends on model welder. Should also be instructions on yellow plastic sheet inside case.
Reply:Have you welded with it yet?Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:Originally Posted by DanD78Have you welded with it yet?Dan D.
Reply:If the rain ever stops and it dries up outside I'll run some 7018 with it!!! I bought a scratch start tig but I will need an argon bottle before I can run that.Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:I finally got a chance to burn some rods with Ol' powcon and she welded flawlessly!!! I used Hobart 3/32 7018.
Reply:Alright, now I'm ready to get the tig going on the thing. What other brand foot pedals can I hook up to this? I have a scratch start set up but I also want to run a pedal setup with another torch.Hobart Stickmate LX 235 ACEverlast Powerarc 140ST DC InverterPowcon 300ST
Reply:There is one on ebay now for $190.00.  Not sure if thats a deal or not.  I have never used a pedal but I have only tig welded SS and carbon.  I know the plug is different than a Miller because my 30A spool gun will not fit a Powcon plug.  There are threads in this section about plugs and pins.  Probably about any can be adapted but have never tired it.Glad it works for you.DanD.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:Go with the ssc pedal. I use mine quite often for big Carbon steel. Talk to the guys at arcon about a diode across the output caps before you CAG with it. Trust me. Also don't let it fall four feet to earth while welding. Trust me. I've got a 300st and two 300sm machines. The bifilar resistor on the output pcb doesn't like hard impact. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using TapatalkPowcon 300st (my favorite)Miller Goldstar 600ssLincoln Idealarc 400/400Miller 12vs2 LN25'sMiller Deltaweld 302Miller Bobcat 250 G EFIMiller Bobcat 225d Plus (Dropped a valve, up soon)Everlast 255ext (ordering soon!)PowCon 300ST.  Old School.  Unit currently not in hand.Test driving her in Stick and TIG mode next weekend.  Will standard Tweco male connectors interface to the aft female connectors on the machine?  No connectors appear visible on the unit from the supplied pictures.Appreciate any insight. Mahalo."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKaiPowCon 300ST.  Old School.  Unit currently not in hand.Test driving her in Stick and TIG mode next weekend.  Will standard Tweco male connectors interface to the aft female connectors on the machine?  No connectors appear visible on the unit from the supplied pictures.Appreciate any insight. Mahalo.
Reply:Mahalo Southpaw."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Closing out a comment from posts #26 and 27.  The PowCon 300ST we acquired from a CL seller is run'n great in both SMAW and scratch TIG. She's now become our primary rig for stick welding in the shop.Learned today, after patiently waiting for 3 weeks, that our LWS can recertify/fill the K cylinder that came with the welder package.  The cylinder is stamped for 4400 psig and configured with a CGA-680 vintage Airco regulator.  The regular is hefty/hefty and in excellent shape.Looking forward to having the increased volume of Ar for work."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Good to hear.  They are really nice stick welders. Same goes for the old TA machines like the LM300 I have. Both excellent choices for inverter stick machines.   The TA are quite a bit lighter than the similar Powcon.  About 15-20lb difference between your 300 and mineTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawGood to hear.  They are really nice stick welders. Same goes for the old TA machines like the LM300 I have. Both excellent choices for inverter stick machines.   The TA are quite a bit lighter than the similar Powcon.  About 15-20lb difference between your 300 and mine
Reply:Correction re post #29:  closer inspection of the vintage Airco regulator/flow meter revealed a max inlet pressure....stamped on the brass boss...of 3000psi.  No es beuno to integrate onto the 4500psig working pressure cylinder.Will have to source a CGA-680 regulator/flow meter, and prob sell our vintage Airco."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Your name plate seems to be in great shape.  Could you take some hi res pics of it and post?  My name plate was worn completely smooth.  Would be nick to know max amps etc.  Thanks,Dave
Reply:Originally Posted by Lafayette GYour name plate seems to be in great shape.  Could you take some hi res pics of it and post?  My name plate was worn completely smooth.  Would be nick to know max amps etc.  Thanks,Dave