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I was just looking at the parts list for an Auto Arc 130 & noticed that it doesn't have a capacitor.It has something called a stabilizer.Would it be a bad thing if it doesn't have a capacitor?Would it weld better,have a smoother arc if it had a capacitor?I just noticed that the hobarts,millers and lincoln have a capacitor and this one does not even though it is made by miller.The Auto Arc 130 is an affordable little mig welder but would it be better if it had a capacitor is what I'm getting at and would it be advisable to spend a few more dollars and get a mig welder that has a capacitor.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:A capacitor makes the dc voltage smoother and increases the strike voltage making it easier to start the arc.You can add the capacitor if you know the value and where to buy it.
Reply:For an idea of the cap you need, my Century 130 has a 45,000 mfd, 45 v cap, with a 25 ohm, 50 w resistor for bleed down.Mike "Dodis"Century 135 MIGMiller Thunderbolt XL AC (working on DC converter) (SCORE! got a H/F box off eBay for this one too) now gotta get busy!!! Harbor Freight 130 TIGOxy/Propane Victor Torch
Reply:I've been doing a little research online about which welders have a capacitor and which ones do not.The only one below the 140 amp class that has a capacitor is the Century wirefeed 100.Other than that one you have to go up to the 140 amp class to find one with a capacitor.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:That is too bad,the capacitor really helps.My little miller Cricket has a capacitor,and it is only rated at 90amps.
Reply:That's what I don't know about the Century Wirefeed 100,Lincoln Electric has only got the 1 manual and parts page for the Century Wirefeed 100 and I don't know if that holds true to the newer Century's like they have at Home Depot or that manual pertains to the older Century Wirefeed 100's.Some of the older welders might have had capacitor's until the companies realized they could save some money and eliminate some parts in the welders.Sportsman's Guide has the Century 100 for $279,comes with sample spool of wire and some contact tip's and nothing else.Since it being new,it might not have a capacitor.I would hate to buy one and find out it doesn't.It would have to weld so much smoother with a capacitor.Like Blueswelder says,his 90 amp Miller Cricket has one but to me that would be a higher dollar welder than one you would find at a Home Depot, Lowe's or Tractor Supply.The manual from Lincoln that I was looking at about the Century 100,showed it already set up for gas and the newer one's you see at Home Depot are not,so I don't know if the newer one's have a capacitor or not.Last edited by dugndeep; 04-20-2011 at 04:56 PM.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Some of the older Century welders seem to have had capacitors.I have not noticed anyone mentioning the capacitor on the 120v units,so maybe there are none..
Reply:I have a century 80 and it is actually an AC welder. The flux core does great with it. I got it for free due to the feed motor quit working. It turned out one diode was burnt up so $0.10 cater it was up and running. The actual welding current is AC but there is a small board that converts it to DC for the feed motor
Reply:That's like my HF 90 amp welder,it is AC and a little PC board converts it to DC to run the wire feed motor.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Here is the schematic on the Century 100,it does have a capacitor,not a bad buy for $279.I just don't see buying one that doesn't have a capacitor unless you plan on putting one in yourself.The Millermatic 251 at work has a very smooth and stable arc,which is why I want one that has a capacitor,world of difference in getting arc started and smooth as you go.I just can't believe that the big 3 don't have capacitors in their 125 amp class of welders. Attached ImagesMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:it controls high frequency , keeps arc smooth and not wobbling in essence it is simply an arc [email protected]
Reply:The Hobart and Miller 125's have what is called a stabilizer and it looks like a small transformer.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:I went to Millers website and looked up Blueswelder 90 amp Cricket owners manual and it has a stabilizer and a capacitor.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:The stabilizer looks like a transformer with a single winding,they used to call such things on a welder,a reactor.Some people call them stabilizers,chokes or inductors.It is what sets on the main transformer in the 151.:The Cricket is designed the same as a large Miller welder,of the time.It is just made to run from the 120v outlet. Attached Images
Reply:It would not be a bad thing in a small mig, the diagram shown is a block diagram, and if you check your machines PCB their are several capacitors, maybe a doz in this machine, many surface mount, what you may be wondering is if their is a large electrolytic to smoothen out the dc input current,reduce noise and allow extra energy when required, not to worry, new welders use Cockcroft-Walton generators, especially inverters, tigs and plasma cutters where high voltage is required.The good thing is they are easy to repair and recognize blown parts.."The CW is a voltage multiplier that converts AC or pulsing DC electrical power from a low voltage level to a higher DC voltage level. It is made up of a voltage multiplier ladder network of capacitors and diodes to generate high voltages. Unlike transformers, this method eliminates the requirement for the heavy core and the bulk of insulation/potting required. Using only capacitors and diodes, these voltage multipliers can step up relatively low voltages to extremely high values, while at the same time being far lighter and cheaper than transformers.  It has the advantage of requiring relatively low cost components and being easy to insulate. One can also tap the output from any stage, like a multitapped transformer."The cap value you show,in the drawing is a fairly high value used probably because the voltage level is constant and it allows rapid changes in amperage without undo demand from the power supply when mig wire short circuits or more than it can safely supply.
Reply:Originally Posted by wboldenit controls high frequency , keeps arc smooth and not wobbling in essence it is simply an arc [email protected]
Reply:Any mig welder from lincoln that has a hyphen,trademarked symbol or a registered symbol in it's name has a capacitor and any that does not have this in it's name does not.Foe example,Easy-core has a cap as to where Easy core does not.Pro core 125 K2479-1 at Lowes on the left does not as to where Easy-core K2696-1 on the right does.The weld pac 125 K2513-1 at home depot on the bottom does not have a cap but the weld-pac 125 with a hyphen does,just thought it might be helpful if someone is looking to purchase a 125 amp welder,shop around,You will pay more for a welder with a cap,$419 compared to $479 with a cap. Attached ImagesLast edited by dugndeep; 04-29-2011 at 09:48 AM.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:To resurrect, the millermatic 140 autoset (115 v), which is rated at 90 amp output is able to weld up to 3/16 steel and advertises as 30-140 amps welding amperage rating has a 100k uf capacitor.  I think this is how the big boys are getting away with welding thick steel on 120v.FWIW, machines rated at 135 are welding at 180, and those at 150a seem to be welding at 210A, all w/the same 100kuf cap.
Reply:I am still using my old Lincoln SP-150 mig weder.It uses a bank of 6 capacitors .This is old school folks.This is a 220v welder, so it may not be a fair comparison.It has a very smooth and stable arc. I have used a lotof different welders,but nothing compares to myol' SP-150.
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueweldersThe stabilizer looks like a transformer with a single winding,they used to call such things on a welder,a reactor.Some people call them stabilizers,chokes or inductors.
Reply:Another point is you can NOT add a capacitor to an AC welder . . . . don't recall if the OP's machine was AC but AC welders were mentioned . . .-- fredLincoln 180C MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55I know this is an older post but. . .The terms stabilizer, choke and inductor are all referring to the same device that "stabilizes" the DC output current.A reactor is a "tapped" device utilized in an AC weld output circuit to control output current by introducing different resistances (the taps) that are selected by a range selector switch or individual output receptacles.Both of the above devices are associated with the output current whereas a capacitor(s) is(are) associated with output voltage as has been stated earlier in the thread.
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueweldersThe stabilizer looks like a transformer with a single winding,they used to call such things on a welder,a reactor.Some people call them stabilizers,chokes or inductors.It is what sets on the main transformer in the 151.:The Cricket is designed the same as a large Miller welder,of the time.It is just made to run from the 120v outlet.
Reply:Good day my friend, I do have Chicago Electric 110 Amp 220V Dual Mig and it design without Capacitor. I just used it in flat welding co'z it doesn't have a good output in horizontal and most specially in vertical. your attachment looks like 110 amps also, isn't it? I thing you add capacitor, does it work good? I think you can help my problem, pls, me I know the value and the diagram? I quite disappointed with my machine, pls
Reply:I suspect that your "Chicago Electric 110 Amp 220V Dual Mig" is very similar to the Harbor Freight 151 Dual Mig (no capacitor from factory).For extensive detailed discussions of modifications to these welders go to:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=33848HF 151 Dual Mig Welder (with mods)Lincoln 225-S AC WelderBuffalo MM-1 Milling MachineCraftsman/Atlas 6 inch Metal LatheBuffalo RF-115  4 x 6 inch Band-SawI have a Harbor Freight/Chicago-Electric Dual MIG to which, I applied the “Mod-Your-151 How-To Guide” using a 100KµF capacitor and a 50Ω bleed resistor.  I have been using it for a year now, and am very happy with the results.Last week I bought a Lincoln K1297 AC/DC stick welder from Craig’s List.  I don’t know if it uses a capacitor on the DC side, but if it doesn’t, what are your thoughts about adding a 100KµF capacitor across the electrode output.  I think that it would have to be integrated with the DC selector switch so it is only energized on DC.Thanks,
Reply:I don't know anything about the "Lincoln K1297 AC/DC", so I cannot advise.....but, in general you probably could add a capacitor to the welder output in DC mode ONLY. Be sure to get the polarity correct and that the capacitor is NOT connected when the output is AC.....HF 151 Dual Mig Welder (with mods)Lincoln 225-S AC WelderBuffalo MM-1 Milling MachineCraftsman/Atlas 6 inch Metal LatheBuffalo RF-115  4 x 6 inch Band-Saw
Reply:Addendum9-Adding a capacitor to a stick welder would be worse than useless. It would make it impossible to strike or hold an arc.Capacitors stabilize voltage, which is a good thing for MIG welders, which are "constant VOLTAGE" machines. Stick welders are "constant CURRENT" machines, and yours already has a choke (aka stabilizer) which stabilizes current.You would be best to leave well enough alone.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:John, Thank you.You are right, of course, about stick.  Doing the mod on my MIG was such a surprising improvement that I was hoping I could hot-rod the K1297 also.  But really, that Lincoln has been a proven design for decades I suppose.  I would like to have a schematic diagram and parts-list to study, though.  I will call Lincoln when I get a chance. Bill
Reply:Galaxieman, thank of sharing the site, I hope I can do it by my self.