Can I run a 220 volt welder off batteries?

[thastinger]

Does not matter what voltage being 12, 48, or 96 would still take 4000 pounds of batteries as they would have the same capacity.

Agree, I said 48V because that would make the battery to inverter cables smaller and open him up to the more powerful 48V inverters. I didn't get into the whole "pounds of battery" thing as it seems he is moving away from the idea.

[Sunking]

Well, I guess if it can't be done for a reasonable cost,

Like I said in my first reply it can be done if cost is no object.

[Sunking]

What you want could be done with a 48V battery bank but it would weigh 2 tons, cost a considerable amount and have a finite life span.

Does not matter what voltage being 12, 48, or 96 would still take 4000 pounds of batteries as they would have the same capacity.

[Living Large]

{snip}What you want could be done with a 48V battery bank but it would weigh 2 tons, cost a considerable amount and have a finite life span. during that life span you will have a new part time job of babysitting them as well.

A bit off topic, but this is the reality I am facing for an off-grid system of similar size for a whole house. I wouldn't do it to support a welder, and I'm not sure I even want to for a house!

[thastinger]

The Trojan 6V batteries would never be able to deliver the amount of power you will need, not in a single string anyway and you wouldn't want rows of them paralleled together. You'd be talking about major weight regardless of how you configured them. What you want could be done with a 48V battery bank but it would weigh 2 tons, cost a considerable amount and have a finite life span. during that life span you will have a new part time job of babysitting them as well.

[Krash]

Well, I guess if it can't be done for a reasonable cost, another generator will have to be dragged around with me. Too bad, as I want to do a little quiet welding.

Thanks to all!

[Sunking]

My welder is powered by 220 volt AC current, not DC. I want to know what type of inverter can be used from my 12 volt solar charged battery bank to run my welder, if it is even possible.

OK here is the problem. You would need a 8000 to 10,000 watt inverter, and there is no such thing as a 12 volt 8000 watt inverter. At that wattage would require a minimum 48 volt inverter. But lets pretend you could find a 12 volt 8000 watt inverter. The 12 volt DC current would be 750 amps. FLA batteries can only be discharge at about C/8 which means you would need 12 volt 6000 AH, 4400 pound, $14,000 battery. The solar required to charge such a large boat anchor would be 8000 yo 1000 watts.

Only economical and practical way to do this is with a portable welder on a trailer that uses either a gas or diesel engine. Something on the order of a 20 hp engine turning a 12 Kva generator.

[Krash]

Yes, I have been looking at the Aims units. They seem to be the type I would need with the split configuration, but in reading about them, everyone seems to think they are junk. I just got finished reading several post.

Recommendation seem to be toward one like the Magnum found here. http://www.solar-electric.com/maenms4444wa.html
But it is more than twice the price. Which I don't mind if I could be sure it would work. It would certainly be overkill for the rest of my needs, but that is fine too.

I haven't decided on batteries yet, but I don't expect them to be much of an issue as far as having 4 to 8. Although how I configure them might have some effect. I am hoping to keep it at 12 volts, but can do 24 volt also. I will probably go with Trojan 6 volt batteries, but not 100% sure yet.

[thastinger]

So that welder draws 22A @ 240V. I'm not aware of any inverters that are going to have a direct plug in for the welder but I suppose you could hard wire the inverter to a dryer style boxed in outlet and get it to work like that.

That will require a 5280W inverter capable of kicking up to 7K for a few seconds for the welder initial arc.
In no way am I recommending this inverter because I know nothing of the brand reliability but the specs look like they could work for you
http://www.amazon.com/Power-PICOGLF4...productDetails

What size is you battery bank again?

[Krash]

Nope, MIG not TIG. I clearly misled everyone with my post title. I will try to explain.

I have a Eastwood 175 mig welder with a spool gun that I use on small aluminum projects. This runs on 220v AC. On any given day, I only actually weld for 5-10 mins over the course of the whole day. I mean actually striking and arc, and welding. I weld in 5-10 second burst a few times spread oven an hour.

I am talking really low usage on very small material, never over 1/8 inch think. My beads are never more than two inches in length.

My welder is powered by 220 volt AC current, not DC. I want to know what type of inverter can be used from my 12 volt solar charged battery bank to run my welder, if it is even possible.

Sorry that I misled some of you to thinking I wanted to run directly of DC power.

[thastinger]

Just to clarify, I will be welding very small projects, all aluminum. I think most trade welders would consider what I will be doing as “tacking”. Maybe three welds in an hour, and no weld would be over two inches in length. The material is 1/8 aluminum only.

I am not talking about doing any heavy welding of structural materials. I think I can get the 220 volts needed by stacking inverters, and then test my welder. If I have any problems, I think I can just add another stack, can’t I?

Sooo you'll be going with a Miller EconoTIG at a min I suppose? Do you plan to preheat the alum? If not, you'll need to consider the power consumed while you have the pedal fully depressed (assuming that is even possible with you planned setup) attempting to get the alum to operating temp. If you do happen to do it, I think you'll find yourself welding differently from battery than grid power.

[SunEagle]

200 amps on a 50 AH battery is not doable. Specs clearly state 200 amps @ 42 volts.

Yeah it "clearly" states - "Rated input = 200amps, 42VDC (two or three 12 volt batteries)"

Not sure if that 24VDC and 200Amp listed are maximum input limits. I also can't see how you can get 2 or 3 12v batteries to equal 42V

[Sunking]

Not what I read, 24 or 36V, I'v always seen them used with 2, 12v batteries. Again not for production , but they will work on small projects. Where I have seen them used on aluminum boat hulls for in the water repairs.

http://www.goweld.com/batteryselection.html

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5376[/ATTACH]

200 amps on a 50 AH battery is not doable. Specs clearly state 200 amps @ 42 volts.

[Krash]

Just to clarify, I will be welding very small projects, all aluminum. I think most trade welders would consider what I will be doing as “tacking”. Maybe three welds in an hour, and no weld would be over two inches in length. The material is 1/8 aluminum only.

I am not talking about doing any heavy welding of structural materials. I think I can get the 220 volts needed by stacking inverters, and then test my welder. If I have any problems, I think I can just add another stack, can’t I?

[Willy T]

200 amps @ 42 volts.

Not what I read, 24 or 36V, I'v always seen them used with 2, 12v batteries. Again not for production , but they will work on small projects. Where I have seen them used on aluminum boat hulls for in the water repairs.

http://www.goweld.com/batteryselection.html

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