PA 160sth..CAN YOU RUN ON DC/ACDC GENERATOR

[stretch]

WAS WONDERING IF I CAN RUN THIS MACHINE ON GEN WITHOUT DAMAGE..Thanks for any info

[Rambozo]

WAS WONDERING IF I CAN RUN THIS MACHINE ON GEN WITHOUT DAMAGE..Thanks for any info

Only if it has enough capacity and is a clean power type unit. (less than 5% THD and a true sinewave)

[stretch]

Only if it has enough capacity and is a clean power type unit. (less than 5% THD and a true sinewave)

RAM...We've got sa's BIG 40's vantage 400's & a couple dinky bobcats on site..These are what I'm talking about.. Does it have to be AC..or can i plug into the sa

[Rambozo]

RAM...We've got sa's BIG 40's vantage 400's & a couple dinky bobcats on site..These are what I'm talking about.. Does it have to be AC..or can i plug into the sa

No way on the SA's these machines are not designed to run from a DC source. My guess is the Big 40's are too old and dirty, but the Vantage 400 should have clean enough power on single or three phase to run an inverter welder.

[joshuab]

In general, when sizing a generator to run a welder, you need to significantly over-spec the generator. This is because a welder pulls a large amount of current just as the arc is struck, and this inrush can exceed the generator's capabilities. What happens is that the arc voltage drops and the arc goes out. The rod sticks, etc... Meanwhile you're running your welder at brown-out voltages and your generator is not going to be happy with you either.

By way of example, a Lincoln buzz-box 225 will draw about 5000-6000 watts at max output, but Lincoln recommends no less than a 15,000 watt generator to run it off of. That gives us an approximate ratio of 3:1 for generator size to welder inrush current. The PA160-STH pulls 30 amps max inrush, so that would suggest you'd want around 90 amps of generator capacity, which, at 220 volts equals around 20 kW.

Realistically, I think that Lincoln's 3:1 ratio is a little bit careful, and you could probably get away with less, especially with a quality generator. The Vantage 400 is rated at 11 kW continuous. This is about 1.6 times the PA 160's inrush current. I'm not sure I would feel good about running the PA160-STH off of that generator.

[wade23454]

In general, when sizing a generator to run a welder, you need to significantly over-spec the generator. This is because a welder pulls a large amount of current just as the arc is struck, and this inrush can exceed the generator's capabilities. What happens is that the arc voltage drops and the arc goes out. The rod sticks, etc... Meanwhile you're running your welder at brown-out voltages and your generator is not going to be happy with you either.

By way of example, a Lincoln buzz-box 225 will draw about 5000-6000 watts at max output, but Lincoln recommends no less than a 15,000 watt generator to run it off of. That gives us an approximate ratio of 3:1 for generator size to welder inrush current. The PA160-STH pulls 30 amps max inrush, so that would suggest you'd want around 90 amps of generator capacity, which, at 220 volts equals around 20 kW.

Realistically, I think that Lincoln's 3:1 ratio is a little bit careful, and you could probably get away with less, especially with a quality generator. The Vantage 400 is rated at 11 kW continuous. This is about 1.6 times the PA 160's inrush current. I'm not sure I would feel good about running the PA160-STH off of that generator.

7000 watts of clean single phase power will do for the 160. I've ran my TA 181i and my powerplasma 50 off a 7000 watt generator from harbor freight with good results. I'm not sure 3 phase power will work with your welder as you would only be using two legs and the phase angles would be 120 degrees apart, vice the correct 180 degrees of single phase.

[everlastsupport]

7000 watts of clean single phase power will do for the 160. I've ran my TA 181i and my powerplasma 50 off a 7000 watt generator from harbor freight with good results. I'm not sure 3 phase power will work with your welder as you would only be using two legs and the phase angles would be 120 degrees apart, vice the correct 180 degrees of single phase.

Which model from HF do you have? And is this with an air compressor?

[wade23454]

Which model from HF do you have? And is this with an air compressor?

Air compressor was charged and then turned off prior to welding or cutting. Model was http://www.harborfreight.com/engines...l#.UxcbEfmSz-o