Welder/generator vs generator+ welder

[Kinda_Welder]

So I was thinking about getting a welder generator and was talking about it with my dad and he brought up that there are 220 generators. Why not get one and run your welders off of that? Is there any good reasons to not get just a generator and run my welders off of that?

[smithdoor]

It work great 👍

Dave

So I was thinking about getting a welder generator and was talking about it with my dad and he brought up that there are 220 generators. Why not get one and run your welders off of that? Is there any good reasons to not get just a generator and run my welders off of that?

[Oscar]

A lot of newer welding machines may not work well with cheaper generators that do not produce clean power with less than 5% THD. That is one major drawback. So no, not all welders "work great" off of just any old generator because not all generators are the same, just like how not all welders are the same. Some of the better quality newer welders are able to deal with dirty power due to advanced circuitry, but that is not generally the norm. So one has to consider the generator and the welder in conjunction, not separately.

[12V71]

So I was thinking about getting a welder generator and was talking about it with my dad and he brought up that there are 220 generators. Why not get one and run your welders off of that? Is there any good reasons to not get just a generator and run my welders off of that?

It's also about the generator wattage output, for the money depending on your welding application, you are probably better off finding a Bobcat style machine for $8-900 used in good condition. More compact than 2 machines and more reliable.

[smithdoor]

The 5% THD is on inverter type.
The inverter is just like a battery type inverter. It can be a square wave or a modified square wave to be close to a real generator witch is a true sign wave.

Dave

So I was thinking about getting a welder generator and was talking about it with my dad and he brought up that there are 220 generators. Why not get one and run your welders off of that? Is there any good reasons to not get just a generator and run my welders off of that?

[tapwelder]

What type work do you plan on doing? I prefer generator and a welder, for the work I do. I carry a 5000 watt generator. It weighs less than 200lbs. Cheaper to haul when not in use.

Really depends on what you do?

[Kinda_Welder]

I'm planning on doing some repair work for farmers and eventually get into some construction type work.

[tapwelder]

I would be interested in hearing arguments for both sides too. I have sold 3 engine drives and
settled with the generator. I do not weld all day, do not stick or tig weld more than 150 amps and keep it
In the bed of my truck taking up about 8 cubic feet of space. Carry an extension cord vs 2 heavy leads. Welder is often on my shoulder. I also mostly work where there is electricity, so I do not always need the genny.

If you have the work demand, then go engine drive. Also, it helps to “look the the part”. If you have are going to be towing an engine drive to repair fence hinges then that is not so good.

[StandarDyne]

Take a look at ebay for used engine drives. Sometimes you can luck out. That's what happened to me when I needed a mobile welder. I picked up a diesel engine drive from a company a few hours away that had lost a contract for the piping on an oil refinery, and it had been mothballed for 10 years or so after it was barely broken-in. It stick welds nicer than any welder I have ever used.

[smithdoor]

Farm repair is great.
Most farmers can run welder for fencing but most can not do repair. This good news for you as by time call you they have already tried and need help.

Construction welding is great if you not in California. But very boring all you do is weld all day long.

Dave

I'm planning on doing some repair work for farmers and eventually get into some construction type work.

[Louie1961]

I guess it depends on how much welding you are actually going to do. For occasional stuff, I guess a separate welder and generator are OK, but if you are going to weld with any regularity, I would go with an engine drive welder if it was my money. Separate units (welder and generator) adds a degree of complexity and multiplies the risk of failure in my opinion. The power coming out of the generator has to be clean enough to not fry the components in your welder (especially an inverter welder), and if you go with an inverter welder with an inverter generator (which I really think is a requirement), you are creating the following chain: [3 phase generator>AC to DC rectifier>inverter to convert DC to sine wave AC]>power cord from the generator to the welder>[AC to DC rectifier>Inverter to convert to high frequency AC>transformer>AC to DC rectifier>output choke]>welding leads. The first set of brackets is the generator, the second set of brackets is the welder. There are three separate rectifiers in that chain and two actual inverter circuits, plus all the connections. If you look at the schematic of something like a Miller Bobcat, it is a generator, an AC choke, a DC choke and a couple of rectifiers. There is MUCH less there to fail.

[smithdoor]

The upside to generator is low cost.
You can afford to have a backup generator too. Some jobs will have power on site and you do not need to run a generator just plug in and start welding.

A engine driven welder has high cost and you run it most time.
At one time it was a symbol to have a Red Lincoln welder
Now on TV they see a lot of welding using just generator and a buss box.

Dave

So I was thinking about getting a welder generator and was talking about it with my dad and he brought up that there are 220 generators. Why not get one and run your welders off of that? Is there any good reasons to not get just a generator and run my welders off of that?

[Freebirdwelds]

Boils down to what kind of work are you going after. The welder/gen combo is going to top out pretty quick on the type of work you will be able to do and limit the types of clients that you can acquire. Where as a good engine drive will help you expand your client base with out any limits.

[Sberry]

Gonna be in the biz generally want an engine drive, if maintenance/hobby I would be the other way today, would have a lunchbox and a small genset. Put one of these puppies in the back of an old truck and look old school, drive the chicks crazy.

[Louie1961]

Gonna be in the biz generally want an engine drive, if maintenance/hobby I would be the other way today, would have a lunchbox and a small genset. Put one of these puppies in the back of an old truck and look old school, drive the chicks crazy.

Unless I was going to do pipeline work, I would not even entertain one of these old Lincolns. I would want something that could do CC and CV welding, at a minimum. Plus AC power generation would be a plus too. I am pretty in love with the Lincoln Ranger MPX series, truth be told

[Leogl]

Well I have never seen a job where you could drive up plug in your welder and go to work let alone charge for it ! The more plugins and connections you have to deal with nope not for me weather is another factor shop machines are not designed to be out in weather you might have to work inside somewhere and it could be raining and snowing I have worked in some pretty nasty weather so don’t forget break downs happen in bad weather too ! My experience with generators if you wanna protect everything you need to drive a ground rod especially when your messing with 220 all the time
These new welders have all the aux power you can use so why not just get a welder drive up on a job and unroll your leads and go to work?

[Freebirdwelds]

Unless I was going to do pipeline work, I would not even entertain one of these old Lincolns. I would want something that could do CC and CV welding, at a minimum. Plus AC power generation would be a plus too. I am pretty in love with the Lincoln Ranger MPX series, truth be told

I've been running my 330mpx for 2 years now and still haven't unlocked its full potential.
If your considering one make sure you side by side compare them. Amperage aside the 260mpx can't do the same things the 330 can.

[Broccoli1]

Well I have never seen a job where you could drive up plug in your welder and go to work let alone charge for it ! The more plugins and connections you have to deal with nope not for me weather is another factor shop machines are not designed to be out in weather you might have to work inside somewhere and it could be raining and snowing I have worked in some pretty nasty weather so don’t forget break downs happen in bad weather too ! My experience with generators if you wanna protect everything you need to drive a ground rod especially when your messing with 220 all the time
These new welders have all the aux power you can use so why not just get a welder drive up on a job and unroll your leads and go to work?

What's the difference between a stand alone generator and the generator on an engine drive?

[smithdoor]

It does get confusing
Some are talking about 1) inverter , 2) generator type welder, 3) generator and a welder. 4) There one other type that is coming market is where have generator and put a inverter type welder inside the generator like the Harbor Freight gasoline welder.

Then will talk about THD witch is about inverter generators.

Dave

What's the difference between a stand alone generator and the generator on an engine drive?

[Broccoli1]

It does get confusing
Some are talking about 1) inverter , 2) generator type welder, 3) generator and a welder. 4) There one other type that is coming market is where have generator and put a inverter type welder inside the generator like the Harbor Freight gasoline welder.

Then will talk about THD witch is about inverter generators.

Dave

You missed the point: he stated that a stand alone generator needs to be grounded.

So I ask what's the difference between a stand alone generator needing grounding and an engine drive's generator that doesn't need grounding?


* BTW- neither need grounding.

[Sberry]

I was just fuggin with u all about the SA

[Broccoli1]

I was just fuggin with u all about the SA

some of us know you

[Sberry]

You missed the point: he stated that a stand alone generator needs to be grounded.

So I ask what's the difference between a stand alone generator needing grounding and an engine drive's generator that doesn't need grounding?


* BTW- neither need grounding.

Slippery slope here Broco.

[Sberry]

some of us know you

I figured it wouldnt get past u.

[Broccoli1]

Slippery slope here Broco.

Indeed