Battery wire feed welder help

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Hi all, new here and a new welder, live off grid and got a century bbattery operated wire feed welder to learn and play on. Anyone ever used one and have any suggestions? Used it with some shielded wire to make a table for a motor/alternator combo, welds were rough, was just trying to see if it worked. Will get some gas for it in a few weeks. Thanks in advance for  any help! Ladt time I welded was 30 years ago and stick so this is allnew tome!
Reply:I am not great for tech but would love to see the progress u have with this settup it has my interest do u have picks of the machine?
Reply:It is possible read the motor voltage and running current??
Reply:Interesting science project.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Not sure on the science part! LOL A couple pics of the old welder, tried to get some pics of my welds,but would get torn to shreds if i showed them here! Worked pretty good off 2 big batteries,welded a small table to hold a gas motor and an alternator to charge batteries, next project a welding table -- working on a wood deck sucked!On the voltage its 24 volts dc, no clue on the current produced by 2 8D batteries. Attached Images
Reply:Interesting machine,I haven't seen one of those before. It appears to be large,but maybe it's just the angle of the pics. I've seen a smaller rechargable portable welder made by Century,but this must be an older model designed for battery hook-up. BTW--Welcome to the forum
Reply:Its about 26in by 14  by 8, and about 35?pounds empty,will handle 4,8 or 12 inch spools. Was on a small table!
Reply:Any chance that welder has a stock number or model number on it? I've been trying to find more on it and haven't found anything yet. It should work on the same principal as the Ready Welder or Go Welder just not as compact. Does it have provisions for gas hook-up or is it flux core only? I like unusual tools and if it's one I'm not familar with I just like to research it. Thanks
Reply:From1982, stock number 117-008-001 portable MIG wire feed, has the gas regulator kit installed I have to look but I think I also have the Aluminum kit with itSpecsduty cycle upto100% depending on batterieswire size .030 to .045wire speed 0 to 525 ipmwelding amps depends on battery size and charge welding gun rated to 180 amps 60% duty cycleHave the store brochure and the 1982 Century welders and battery chargers catalog also came with it.
Reply:Sounds like you got a "Honey" there..... I'm going to look into it a little closer and 'Thanks" for the details on it.
Reply:I printed out an exploded view of the internal parts to examine it closer... There isn't a lot of stuff inside that box. Most of the space is for the wire spool and the wire feeder motor.  http://centuryweldingparts.com/data/117-008.pdfIt's supposed to stand up on end if I read the diagram correctly( rubber feet on the end) other than the parts I mentioned there is just a small circuit board control panel that controls the functions of the entire unit. The whole unit would be pretty simple to replicate with a schematic of that control board.It's probably similar to the control board in a Ready Welder,just from 30+ years ago,so it's larger than a more modern circuit board would be. It's an interesting tool,but then I'm always interested in welders that attach to batteries or vehicles. It's probably useful in your situation if you have solar battery chargers to re-supply the units battery.
Reply:A 24V  10A  power suppy fed by 115V ac outlet can easily run this wire feeder .
Reply:tnhomestead - make sure you've got your polarity right for the wire you're using (EN for flux core - EP for solid wire w/ shielding gas).  Could be what's giving you problems with your weld quality.. . .and welcome to the forum.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55tnhomestead - make sure you've got your polarity right for the wire you're using (EN for flux core - EP for solid wire w/ shielding gas).  Could be what's giving you problems with your weld quality.. . .and welcome to the forum.
Reply:Originally Posted by tony mattA 24V  10A  power suppy fed by 115V ac outlet can easily run this wire feeder .
Reply:Thanks for the idea, and help!BIG thanks for the parts list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sits on bottom not on end tho,end has all the hookups when in use.Cant figure out how to change polarity on it, the wire to the tip is a one way plug, and I would worry about plugging it in to 24v backwards.Think its the idiot with thew trigger was ruining the welds,when I get back homewith a bit more(Cheap I Hope) steel, will find out!Thanks too for the welcomes, look forward to larnin me a lot here! LOL
Reply:It didn't occur to me that you might not have a manual on that unit... contact Century tool  http://www.centurytool.net/  is the web page,but I'd get the phone number and call them about that unit. They are real helpful and can help you with the manual as well as parts...If that circuit board goes out you might be up the creek,but they can help better than anyone else with information.They sent me a manual by email on an out of production arc stabilizer when I contacted them. Very nice people...I don't want to give you any false directions about changing polarity on that unit...if you do something wrong it might fry the circuit board...so i'll keep my thoughts to myself about that. Best if you have a copy of the manual with the directions for operation.
Reply:Thnx Mudbugone, got the manual, turns out all I need to do is swap the incoming positive/negative cables, but that thought still scares me silly -- too many years where reversed polarity fried stuff! Thanks for the help, wish I was in La sucking down a crawdad right about now!Still got lots of questions will save them for another day!
Reply:Originally Posted by tnhomestead. . .got the manual, turns out all I need to do is swap the incoming positive/negative cables. .
Reply:A friend of mine had one like that and about the same vintage. I don't remember the brand. It claimed to be able to weld with 1,2 or 3 batteries. It really didn't do squat on 1 battery. It welded flux core OK on 2 truck batteries and like was said before you had to work with the stick out length to get it right. Never tried it with gas and solid wire. It didn't want to feed the last half of a 4 inch spool worked ok with a 10 pound spool.Tough as nails and damn near as smart