If I was going to buy a battery powered mig, I would probly go with the one Hobart makes. I forget what it's called. It looks like a Millermatic Passport mig or Suitcase feeder. It has it's own gel cell battery and 115v charger inside the mig case.

If you're going to carry a generator anyways, why not just buy a cheap 115v portable mig and use it with a regular portable generator. Alot cheaper and less hassle and the genny can be used to power many other things too, like power tools and lights. $300 will buy a descent used portable generator and another $300-500 will buy a used portable 115v or 220v mig.

 

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/battery-powered/trek180/

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/hobart-trek-180.html ------- review

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOtQ25aOO5U&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

You're talking about the Trek-180 by Hobart... It's considerable more $$$ than the Redi-welder,but a different bird altogether.http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/battery-powered/

I'm sure it would depend on usage of a portable unit to justify either unit. The Redi-welder seems more versatile and compact than the Trek-180,but I don't own either machine. The Trek-180 can be recharged on a standard converter plugged into your truck or plugged into the shop plug to either recharge or operate.

Depending on your idea of what portable means... A Zena underhood with long leads or a Mobi-Arc with long leads might serve your needs too. There's another manufacturer of a similar underhood unit I can't recall. Found it-- http://www.premierpowerwelder.com/

 

Thanks for the info guys.

Desertrider33, I'll consider the 110v mig since I have a 5kw generator at my disposal already. Plus I'm planning on putting a large inverter into my work vehicle since it has an oversized alternator. I drive a used ambulance. Figured since I'm not loading the alternator with internal and external lights, suction pump, inverter, and whatever other medical equip they had, that I could have a couple deep trolling batteries charging while I'm driving around. Then either use them dirrectly for a battery powered mig, or a large inverter.

Bozzza, thanks for the review of the hobart welder. Doesn't really seem to be worth the price tag to me.

Mudbugone, I've considered the Zena welder. Just not sure that I have any room under the hood. Everything is packed in there pretty tight already.

The generator I'm planning on building is a little ways off. It's an aircraft generator/starter. DC current only. Though I could put the inverter on it to make AC for whatever. My work vehicle is a diesel, so I was considering getting into making my own biodiesel. If I do get into making my own fuel, I want to get a diesel engine for my generator too.

So I guess small mig and my regular generator will do for now. My goal though is to try avoiding hauling a generator with me unless I need it.

Here's my new "toy." I'll put some better pics, including the inside, in the "let's see the rigs" thread. I use the inside for work space, so I prefer to to fill it up with a generator if I can avoid it.

 

Since you have the ambulance and it surely has a very high output alternator... I'd look at the Mobi-Arc unit. It can be attached to your high output alternator and can also be converted to Mig & Tig. Space underhood wouldn't be an issue..it can be mounted anywhere and connected to your existing alternator... The control box is very small,it would fit in the glovebox.

Take a look.. http://www.perfectswitch.com/

I've been wanting a Redi-welder myself,but the Mobi-Arc unit is pretty nifty.

 

I have a Ready Welder. It's the older version and I'm not sure what improvements they've made. To be truthfull I've not used it in a long time now. When I first got it I used it hard welding for two days in a large cattle trailer while powering it from my Millermatic 200. Then I got a big water cooled Cobramatic and Dimension 400 at a auction and pretty much quite using the Ready Welder. I did try it one time after that and was frustrated with it after using the Cobramatic. My main problems was how easy it was to bump the feed control knob. I think they've worked on that problem since but it's something you might want to look at. I finally got around to changing the input plug on it last year so I could use it with my Bobcat that I had then but then never had a job that I couldn't do with another method so never used it. I may be forced to use it now if I get a heavy aluminum job in the near future since I'm in the process of upgrading a lot of my setup and my replacement for the Cobramatic is having parts issues.

 

I picked up a Ready Welder for doing work at the derbies after a heat and trying to get the car ready for a main event. 2 batterys will allow you to melt through 1/4"! I really like it for the limited amount of time I have had to play with it. It also has a line so you can run shield gas in it or just flux core wire.

 

Thanks mudbugone! The mobi-arc looks like a better match for what I want than any of the other options so far.:blob3: Alot cheaper than an inverter big enough to power my small welder. I'll have to invest in some long cables. Thanks again! :cool2:

 

Well, I got a better look at the Mobi-arc, and emailed them a few questions. They don't produce a mig unit for it yet, "but look for it soon." They told me there are other mig guns compatable with their system on the market, including the Ready Welder II. So I've come full circle I guess. The advantage of using the RW II with the Mobi-Arc unit is that you have greater voltage control, and can run it right off the vehicles alternator.

I've re-thought using a small mig with a generator. Since the RW works with a constant current machine as well, I might as well plug my TA 160 into the generator and run the RW off that for light work where I need heat control, and if I have heavy work I'll run it off batteries, for the time being. I do plan on getting the Mobi-Arc down the road.

I've also seen another unit called the GoWeld. A little more expensive, but better built by the looks of it. A couple more features than the RW. But I didn't see anything about it being able to be used with a CC power supply.

 

The Go-weld & the Ready Welder are similar in design... I like the much more compact unit design of the Ready Welder over the Go Weld,but that's just personal preference. I've never looked into the Go Weld as far as what it can be hooked to for a power source. Both units are used by the military,since they operate vehicles on 24v.

I know the Ready Welder can be attached to certain welders and operated and it can be used as a spool gun when so connected. That makes it less expensive than an actual spool gun usually,Plus it can be used as a stand alone mig when connected to batteries.

I looked at a special Ready Welder setup a couple of years ago and didn't actually know what I was viewing. It sold for $350,but the kicker was it had over 100' of the extended cable leads with it (they cost more than it sold for) The "special" military package contains more than the regular package.

The Ready Welder comes configured several ways for different connections. It also can be had with a "hot" tip like a stick welder or a "cold start" like a standard mig gun.Not a major deal,but something you might want to be aware of.

I bought one of these http://www.readywelder.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=26 Mig-Master units on a lark some time back. It was an item that Ready Welder sold before they developed the new compact self contained model. It's brand new and requires a variable speed drill to run the wire feed which makes it "interesting" to say the least..LOL...I remembered seeing them advertised years ago and figured I could use it as an aluminum spool gun if nothing else. As things work out I didn't get around to it and bought a big Lincoln mig that has a spool gun..so it's been on the shelf. I'll eventually hook it up to some batteries just for kicks I suppose as a battery operated mig like it was intended.

Good Luck with what ever system you decide on...Keep us posted on the outcome.:waving: