Dialarc 250 - "how much generator?" ;)

[MinnesotaDave]

Well, I plugged the Miller Dialarc 250 into the Bobcat 225nt. (with 8000 watt generator)

Was checking to see how it ran that way so I could let @whtbaron check out the machine.

(met him part way so he wouldn't have to drive so far)

Fired up an 1/8" 7018 at 130 amps and welded about 1 inch....aaand....popped the Bobcat's breaker.

It welded 3/32" 7018 at 100 amps very well though.


8000w/230v = 34.7 amps. I guess that wasn't enough LOL


Interestingly, the Bobcat didn't even sound super bogged down, barely heard any change while drawing all that it puts out.

It generates power better than my old cheapy Generac 5000/6250. That one wildly fluctuates RPM with sudden load.

[Louie1961]

My synchrowave would weld 1/8 7018 on a 50 amp breaker, no problem. But to get to full tilt (310 amps) it needed at least a 90 amp breaker. Not accounting for the quality of the AC output from the Bobcat, I am thinking you need at LEAST 10,000 watts to run at 130 amps. If the Bobcat or other genny is putting out anything other than pure sine wave power (e.g., modified sine wave) then you will need significantly more. Lincoln advises a minimum of a 15000 watt generator to run an AC/DC-225

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...ze-detail.aspx

[MinnesotaDave]

But Louie, surely 34.7 amps is enough - lol

I've run them on 50 and 60 amp breakers too - works very well.

Bobcat was "a little" low on power

My Syncrowave 350 does not like 50 amp breakers though. High amp tig pops that pretty quick.

[123weld]

doesnt surprise me. my 8000 generator will run an idealc 250 w/ capacitors w/ 1/8 7018, but might not w/o the capacitors, thats may be the case w/ the dialarc. good u made this risky border crossing/exchange, while u still can. and im sure both u properly adhered to cdc guidlines, and followed all local, state, federal, international covid19 protocols/mandates while doing so, in this critical time of the delta surge, because big brother was watching

[MinnesotaDave]

doesnt surprise me. my 8000 generator will run an idealc 250 w/ capacitors w/ 1/8 7018, but might not w/o the capacitors, thats may be the case w/ the dialarc. good u made this risky border crossing/exchange, while u still can. and im sure both u properly adhered to cdc guidlines, and followed all local, state, federal, and international covid19 protocols/mandates while doing so, in this critical time of the delta surge, because big brother was watching

I was wondering about the machines with PFC. Makes sense they would run on less - sure helped my old Airco 300

CDC? Is that still a thing? Figured that would be done like the NFL or Crystal Pepsi...

[123weld]

I was wondering about the machines with PFC. Makes sense they would run on less - sure helped my old Airco 300

CDC? Is that still a thing? Figured that would be done like the NFL or Crystal Pepsi...

i hear a bit of a constant drag/load on generator engine (even when not welding), as i think them capacitors are pulling juice all the time. then when strike arc at 120 amp output, the gen eng dont bog as much as u'd think, as them capacitors are putting out. thats my observation anyway. i wouldnt go much above 120 amp output though. i dont make practice of it, i did it for testing to buy, just like u guys did.

i wish they'd all just dissolve

[whtbaron]

doesnt surprise me. my 8000 generator will run an idealc 250 w/ capacitors w/ 1/8 7018, but might not w/o the capacitors, thats may be the case w/ the dialarc. good u made this risky border crossing/exchange, while u still can. and im sure both u properly adhered to cdc guidlines, and followed all local, state, federal, international covid19 protocols/mandates while doing so, in this critical time of the delta surge, because big brother was watching

Well... I thought I was being careful... had the Double Vax card and passport, but I should have had my lawyer reread the rules on the paperwork. Got slapped with the 14day self isolate but I'll be done that next Monday.

[123weld]

wow, yea , they mean biz

[G-ManBart]

As an experiment I ran my Dialarc 250 off of my Hobart Champion Elite (11Kw) and it didn't struggle at all with 1/8 7018.

[MinnesotaDave]

As an experiment I ran my Dialarc 250 off of my Hobart Champion Elite (11Kw) and it didn't struggle at all with 1/8 7018.

The extra watts sure makes a difference. Yours should be rated 9.5Kw continuous, 11Kw peak.

I've not seen a listing to tell if my Bobcat's 8Kw is peak or continuous. But I suspect it's the continuous rating based on the labeling on the machine.

[whtbaron]

Put a bigger tractor on it....

[Broccoli1]

The extra watts sure makes a difference. Yours should be rated 9.5Kw continuous, 11Kw peak.

I've not seen a listing to tell if my Bobcat's 8Kw is peak or continuous. But I suspect it's the continuous rating based on the labeling on the machine.

Should be in yer manual. Here are two different 225NT screen grabs from the Miller site.

[albrightree]

Looks like power factor caps make a big difference.

[MinnesotaDave]

Put a bigger tractor on it....

Well.....that should do it lol

[MinnesotaDave]

Should be in yer manual. Here are two different 225NT screen grabs from the Miller site.

You're right, should have been in the manual.

All it says is:
"Combined output of all receptacles
limited to 8 kVA/kW rating of the
generator."

On the welder it says: "Total all loads 8000 watts."

I suspect the second one you showed would be correct, with 8500 watts as the peak.

[MinnesotaDave]

Looks like power factor caps make a big difference.

PFC is pretty cool

My Thermal Arc 161 is power factor corrected - works really nice on generators.
But the difference in amperage needed is not nearly as impressive with inverters.

[mla2ofus]

whtbaron your generator shouldn't have any horsepower shortage!!

[whtbaron]

That one kicks out around 140 so it doesn't even feel the load. I've had it on the old 4020 (around 90) with the whole yard on it ( at that time we had 2 households and a barn full of pigs) and it was working pretty hard. I think it's easier on fuel if I use the bigger tractor.

[Sberry]

I dont recall what the manual of the Weldan Power 6000 says about horsepower starts, its not much but mine will start a 5 hp motor without a blink.