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Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by Lafayette G

Your name plate seems to be in great shape. Could you take some hi res pics of it and post? My name plate was worn completely smooth. Would be nick to know max amps etc.
Thanks,
Dave

The topic is five years old, I don't think anyone will answer you.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Your name plate seems to be in great shape. Could you take some hi res pics of it and post? My name plate was worn completely smooth. Would be nick to know max amps etc.
Thanks,
Dave

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Correction re post #29: closer inspection of the vintage Airco regulator/flow meter revealed a max inlet pressure....stamped on the brass boss...of 3000psi. No es beuno to integrate onto the 4500psig working pressure cylinder.

Will have to source a CGA-680 regulator/flow meter, and prob sell our vintage Airco.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by soutthpaw

Good to hear. They are really nice stick welders. Same goes for the old TA machines like the LM300 I have. Both excellent choices for inverter stick machines. The TA are quite a bit lighter than the similar Powcon. About 15-20lb difference between your 300 and mine

DJ - thanks for your help re the connectors. And don't be mentioning any other machines to 'consider'......the bride's gun'a slay me if another item, strategically covered in old towels, is found in the shop.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Good to hear. They are really nice stick welders. Same goes for the old TA machines like the LM300 I have. Both excellent choices for inverter stick machines. The TA are quite a bit lighter than the similar Powcon. About 15-20lb difference between your 300 and mine

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Closing out a comment from posts #26 and 27.

The PowCon 300ST we acquired from a CL seller is run'n great in both SMAW and scratch TIG. She's now become our primary rig for stick welding in the shop.

Learned today, after patiently waiting for 3 weeks, that our LWS can recertify/fill the K cylinder that came with the welder package. The cylinder is stamped for 4400 psig and configured with a CGA-680 vintage Airco regulator. The regular is hefty/hefty and in excellent shape.

Looking forward to having the increased volume of Ar for work.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Mahalo Southpaw.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by ManoKai

PowCon 300ST. Old School. Unit currently not in hand.Test driving her in Stick and TIG mode next weekend.

Will standard Tweco male connectors interface to the aft female connectors on the machine? No connectors appear visible on the unit from the supplied pictures.

Appreciate any insight. Mahalo.

Yep standard Tweco connectors

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Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

PowCon 300ST. Old School. Unit currently not in hand.Test driving her in Stick and TIG mode next weekend.

Will standard Tweco male connectors interface to the aft female connectors on the machine? No connectors appear visible on the unit from the supplied pictures.

Appreciate any insight. Mahalo.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Go with the ssc pedal. I use mine quite often for big Carbon steel. Talk to the guys at arcon about a diode across the output caps before you CAG with it. Trust me. Also don't let it fall four feet to earth while welding. Trust me. I've got a 300st and two 300sm machines. The bifilar resistor on the output pcb doesn't like hard impact.

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Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

There is one on ebay now for $190.00. Not sure if thats a deal or not. I have never used a pedal but I have only tig welded SS and carbon. I know the plug is different than a Miller because my 30A spool gun will not fit a Powcon plug.
There are threads in this section about plugs and pins. Probably about any can be adapted but have never tired it.
Glad it works for you.

DanD.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Alright, now I'm ready to get the tig going on the thing. What other brand foot pedals can I hook up to this? I have a scratch start set up but I also want to run a pedal setup with another torch.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

I finally got a chance to burn some rods with Ol' powcon and she welded flawlessly!!! I used Hobart 3/32 7018.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

If the rain ever stops and it dries up outside I'll run some 7018 with it!!! I bought a scratch start tig but I will need an argon bottle before I can run that.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by DanD78

Have you welded with it yet?

Dan D.

Naw not yet. I had to order some tweco connectors. They won't be in until next week. And I need to buy an argon bottle for my tig setup.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Have you welded with it yet?

Dan D.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by ccawgc

There are always two places to make changes for line voltage.
One behind the front panel and one in the back.
The one in front is 4 studs and one or two links.
The one in back is either a pcb with lots of screws or a set of links just like the front.
Depends on model welder. Should also be instructions on yellow plastic sheet inside case.

Thanks! My welder has 3 places I had to make changes to.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

There are always two places to make changes for line voltage.
One behind the front panel and one in the back.
The one in front is 4 studs and one or two links.
The one in back is either a pcb with lots of screws or a set of links just like the front.
Depends on model welder. Should also be instructions on yellow plastic sheet inside case.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

It works!!!! After ready the manually like 8 times, I finally started understanding what I needed to do to convert it from 460 to 230. I put a new male outlet on it and BAM!!! It turned on and sounds beautiful. Now I have to order a few male and female tweco connectors. Can't wait to use it. I may make a step by step tutorial on converting it.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Look at the manual. If its anything like other powcons there's a couple bus bars you've got to switch and maybe a capacitor board that needs to have bolts removed, rotated and reinstalled so the correct voltage label is at the top. As for single vs 3 phase you pick 2/3 of the connections going into the power switch and hook your wires for your L1/L2 to those, and hook your ground to where its currently connected. If you picked right the unit will power on, if you picked wrong move to a different 2/3 connections on that switch and try again until unit powers up.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Im trying to wire this thing up. The plate says its wire for 460 with a 4 wire cord. Im only set up for 3 wire. How do I go about converting this thing over?

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger and got it! The guy told me he bought it from a friend that got layed off about 4 years ago. And just never plugged it in. He have me about 60 ft of lead to go with it and it has some quick connects. So now I have something to go by when I buy some new connectors. I'm about to pop it open and clean it up real good!

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

Originally Posted by DanD78

If he wants to sell it bad enough he will find a way for you to test it. With out testing the price should be dirt cheep. No more than a couple hundred bucks. Ask the guy about his back ground and where the machine came from. Seems fishey he has no way to demo the machine. Don't be afraid to low ball him or walk away.

Dan D.

Yea I hear what you are saying man. I am trading a $150 gun for it. So I am getting it pretty cheap.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

If he wants to sell it bad enough he will find a way for you to test it. With out testing the price should be dirt cheep. No more than a couple hundred bucks. Ask the guy about his back ground and where the machine came from. Seems fishey he has no way to demo the machine. Don't be afraid to low ball him or walk away.

Dan D.

Re: Powcon 300 ST... Got a few questions before purchase

I wish I knew exactly which tweco ends to buy, amazon has sooo many haha.