Everlast 225 LX or Miller syncrowave?

[brad3579]

I have never even picked up a tig torch but have used stick and mig.
I was thinking of purchasing a 225 LX Everlast welder but have since ran into an opportunity to take my pick on one of two used Miller Syncrowave welders.
Both are about three years old.
One is a 200 DX with runner package for about $500 less than the 225 LX with a water cooler and cart.
The other is a 250 DX without the runner package but does include a Bernard water cooler for about $200 more than the 225 LX with a water cooler and cart.
Thoughts about going with the transformer type verses inverter type and cost.
Thanks
Brad

[DVA]

An inverter machine will pull much less power out of the wall with comparable output at the torch as the old transformer machines are not as efficient. Also if you go with an inverter machine they are much more versatile with pulse settings and ac settings. I would go with the best inverter machine you can afford. If you want a bullet proof machine the syncrowave machines are hard to beat with the provided draw backs.

[dyethor]

If it were me I would go for the most amps for your money. I don't have too much torch time on a transformer I've mostly used inverter. Do you want a portable unit or is it going to be only used in your shop?

[srp]

I have never even picked up a tig torch but have used stick and mig.
I was thinking of purchasing a 225 LX Everlast welder but have since ran into an opportunity to take my pick on one of two used Miller Syncrowave welders.
Both are about three years old.
One is a 200 DX with runner package for about $500 less than the 225 LX with a water cooler and cart.
The other is a 250 DX without the runner package but does include a Bernard water cooler for about $200 more than the 225 LX with a water cooler and cart.
Thoughts about going with the transformer type verses inverter type and cost.
Thanks
Brad

The Sycrowave 250 may be a problem if have it at home because it pulls 96 amps at 250, the 200 will pull close to 70 amps at 200.

[SeanMurphy265]

For me warranty is a big deal. I have to save up my pennies, so I'm one of these who will buy the extended warranty plan for the right price! The cooler would add some value because they are not cheap. I like inverter machines because of their functions and portability; which opens up more doors to earn money. Get a good generator and all of the sudden you have a mobile welding business.

[brad3579]

If it were me I would go for the most amps for your money. I don't have too much torch time on a transformer I've mostly used inverter. Do you want a portable unit or is it going to be only used in your shop?

The Sycrowave 250 may be a problem if have it at home because it pulls 96 amps at 250, the 200 will pull close to 70 amps at 200.

It would be used in the shop where I have the power to run it on one end of the shop.
I only have a 50 amp outlet by my lift but would assume that I could still run it to tack weld an exhaust etc. and then weld it up by my welding area?

For me warranty is a big deal. I have to save up my pennies, so I'm one of these who will buy the extended warranty plan for the right price! The cooler would add some value because they are not cheap. I like inverter machines because of their functions and portability; which opens up more doors to earn money. Get a good generator and all of the sudden you have a mobile welding business.

One of the reasons I was looking at the inverters was the light weight if needed to be used off site. I have mutiple generators the largest being a 10 kW.
The warranty on the used I am not so worried as they are working now so I should probably be ok.

[dyethor]

I'm not an electrical engineer. However I think it would be fine it you run it at lower levels. You could experiment to see how high of a setting you can get with a sustained weld. See what trips your breaker. Then try to run lower then that threshold. Again I'm not an engineer, I dont know if your shops wiring is up to code, nor can I test your equipment over the net.

Having a portable unit is nice especially when it can be run off of a generator. I can run my dynasty 200 off of my 8500kw generator at up to 130amps without tripping the breaker on the gen set. I need a bigger generator...

[jp2code]

An inverter machine will pull much less power out of the wall with comparable output at the torch as the old transformer machines are not as efficient. Also if you go with an inverter machine they are much more versatile with pulse settings and ac settings. I would go with the best inverter machine you can afford. If you want a bullet proof machine the syncrowave machines are hard to beat with the provided draw backs.

The Sycrowave 250 may be a problem if have it at home because it pulls 96 amps at 250, the 200 will pull close to 70 amps at 200.

So, would a Syncrowave 250 pull 96 amps ONLY when set at 250 and welding at 250?

I'm guessing the Everlast 225 LX would pull next to nothing until the arc was struck, and then only draw what the dial was set to. Correct?