hooking up inverter welders in parallel

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I have one of those little Honk King Junkyard (Harbor Freight) inverter stick tig welders (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...mnumber=91811).  I picked it up for $200 on a lark. Yep it is nowhere near my Lincoln machine, but it is small, light and it surprised the heck out of me in terms of what it can do. Now with that said, can these inverters be hooked up in parallel? I have some work to do at my brother-in-laws that will require some welding.  Unfortunately, what needs to be done requires more horse power than this little guy and put out. I was wondering if it would be possible to hook up inverters like this in parallel and boost the output?  I know it can be done, and I have done this with older carbon pile units. I just don't know about inverters. Paralleling two of these is much more preferable to me trailering my big machine to the BIL's house.I thank you.
Reply:I have run two powcons in parallel for a short time, but I have been assured that, at least for powcon inverters, parallel is no problem.  I am not sure for the HF machines...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I don't know about the hf machines.  They both should be set set to the same output.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:What David said is what I was told by the Powcon folks as well...same output on both machines.  Y-cables for + and -.  The Y's had to be the same length also.  The instructions were very similar to these from miller on the big transformers.http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/Paralleling.pdfSmithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Hmmmm....I'm assuming he meant 2 HF welders and not his HF and his Lincoln whatever it is??Now what about 2 Dynasty 200's? (or maybe Invertec 205-T's) and if so what would that get you?? More duty cycle?? Just wonder if the benefits would be much.Miller Dynasty 700Miller 350P with Aluma-pro push-pullMiller 280 Dynasty with expansion card Dynasty 200 DXMigMax 215 Enuff power and hand tools to create one of anything..... but mass produce nothing!!!
Reply:Yes, I am assuming two of the same welders also.  NOT two DIFFERENT welders.  I have no idea what two different welders might do to each other.  The main benefit I got was the ability to run at or near 400 amps off a couple of single phase 240v plugs and breakers...I was just experimenting, so I haven't tried it for any length of time or anything.  The output was higher, but I didn't have the ability to measure anything...it was just the "WOW, this is a lot hotter than usual..." method of testing.  I am assuming you get the same duty cycle at roughly twice the output, because the output is spread over two inverters evenly.  I could be way off here...maybe someone with more understanding of the processes involved in paralleling will jump in here and clear up any misconceptions I might have.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Yes, I am talking about hooking up two HF welders.  My Lincoln stays in the shop.  From what I have been able to gather from a couple other places and a booklet on paralleling inverter welders, is if the machines are straight DC, it will work. Running two AC units, will kill the machines. Thanks for the input guys.  I will do this in a week or so, I'll let you know what happens.
Reply:Any inverter can be hooked up in parallel.  As with any power supply when paralleling you must balance the load and have the correct cable size and equal lengths.
Reply:A picture would help.Do you hook both work clamps to work and both stingers to the 7018 or TIG torch or whatever?Just kidding. I dont care or have two identical Inverters or need too.
Reply:Originally Posted by kenlhlpAny inverter can be hooked up in parallel.  As with any power supply when paralleling you must balance the load and have the correct cable size and equal lengths.
Reply:Here's a good paralleling thread:  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-With-Pictures!"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder