generators and welders

[ryanjones2150]

Alrighty gents, back with another question...er...advice really. Drag week is coming up. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's a bunch of lunatics that get together once a year for a drag racing marathon sponsored by hotrod magazine. It's a 5 day race, consecutive days, four tracks (start and finish at the same track), but the kicker is...you have to drive your drag car from track to track. No support crew or vehicle, no chase car, no rv's, just you, a buddy and whatever you can fit into the car and one tiny trailer.

...and beer.

Here's my question...since space is a premium, but I still need a welder, what kind of problems should I expect to run into with powering one of my machines off a generator? My machine options are a lincoln 140c or my maxstar 150sth. I'd absolutely prefer my maxstar, just not certain if I could damage it by running it on a generator. My power source will be a small, 2000w honda inverter generator.

So...advice please?

[ja baudin]

Alrighty gents, back with another question...er...advice really. Drag week is coming up. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's a bunch of lunatics that get together once a year for a drag racing marathon sponsored by hotrod magazine. It's a 5 day race, consecutive days, four tracks (start and finish at the same track), but the kicker is...you have to drive your drag car from track to track. No support crew or vehicle, no chase car, no rv's, just you, a buddy and whatever you can fit into the car and one tiny trailer.

...and beer.

Here's my question...since space is a premium, but I still need a welder, what kind of problems should I expect to run into with powering one of my machines off a generator? My machine options are a lincoln 140c or my maxstar 150sth. I'd absolutely prefer my maxstar, just not certain if I could damage it by running it on a generator. My power source will be a small, 2000w honda inverter generator.

So...advice please?

Since space is an issue, stick with can beer since its easier to stack and pack in an ice chest. This will give additional room for more beer OR an extra bag of ice to cool down your intake manifold in between runs.

Ja


No info on generator, sorry

[H80N]

Can you network with some of the other guys and pool resources on the tour?

one guy brings a TIG... another a MIG... third guy a gas compressor (really useful on the roadside).... etc etc...

if you guys caravan together and spread the load... should make any unforseen failure easier to deal with... kinda like a rotating pit crew...

A lot of the needed equip might also depend on how well prepped and streetable your car is...

known failure points.. spare parts you "KNOW" you will use up on the trip..etc etc

[Broccoli1]

The Honda 2000 won't be enough.

13amp continuos power in straight math but it just doesn't have enough overall engine size to withstand the kick in the nuts the welder will give it.

One Honda 2000 would not run my Passport on 120v.

[ryanjones2150]

generators and welders

Hmmm, that's what I was a afraid of. Pooling resources isn't really explicitly against the rules, just not what this event is about. Now, if someone does break down and need some of my tools, I'll be more than happy to help, which most people are as well.

I may look at a bigger generator since it definitely won't run my little air compressor. I didn't think it would run that little mig, even on the lightest of settings, but I am surprised it won't run the TIG. I might give it a shot and see just as an experiment.

Aside from likely not having enough power, will running that maxstar off a generator cause any issues with the machine you guys might consider?

[Portable Welder]

Good question, supposedly some generators give cleaner power than others, a honda or miller would definately have clean power.

The choice of taking the Maxstar 150 would be my choice with a bottle of argon.

[H80N]

Good question, supposedly some generators give cleaner power than others, a honda or miller would definately have clean power.

The choice of taking the Maxstar 150 would be my choice with a bottle of argon.

or how about your HTP 221 TIG and a bottle of argon?? and... a couple of extensions and some dryer/range--to 6-50 pigtail adapters...?? and an RV park/Marina shore power adapter

You would be amazed at how easy it is to find power out in the field...

and the HTP is not that much bigger than the Maxstar.... and it will do aluminum...

[ryanjones2150]

generators and welders

That is a very good option and there is a fair amount of aluminum on this particular drag car. I got a line on a bigger power source, but it's not an inverter generator like that honda. I have used this type of generator in the past and had some sensitive electronics not work properly or not at all. Didn't cause any damage to the electronics (that I know of), but it doesn't do any good if it doesn't work. And with all the fancy schmancy electronics in these inverter welders, and how expensive they are, it terrifies me to screw one of them up.

The RV cord is a great idea and once you start looking for power sources in the field, you're absolutely right, they are not terribly hard to find. BUT it won't help me much under an overpass on the freeway. So even if I take along a shore power cord big enough to run something like my 221, I'd still want that portable welding ability. We'll have the generator to run power tools anyway, so it's a matter of multitasking the power source, welder and other tools.

[H80N]

Oh.... And don't forget to throw some duct-tape.... 5-MinEpoxy...RTV(Silicon Rubber) and Ty-Wraps into your emergency kit...

[Broccoli1]

Anyone else in the group have a Honda 2000? You can parallel them with the simple banana plug kit.

That will definitely work and allow for 20amp continuos draw.

[fabricator]

Get you one of these http://readywelder.com/

[weldtex]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhsY5AIyNU

[ryanjones2150]

generators and welders

I remember looking at those things back in the 90s! Anyone every use one?

I have to have power anyway, so it's a matter of matching my welding capabilities to my power source and not frying my welder at the same time. I wish I had a nice big bobcat or trailblazer, but that's out of the question...but speaking of those, what's the chance that miller starts making those machine with inverter generators soon? Or maybe they already do? I'm sort of in the market for one anyway; being in hurricane alley and all, a backup generator for house would be nice.

[weldtex]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhsY5AIyNU

[H80N]

Took the time to look up and read the rules....

http://www.hotrod.com/news/1412-final-2015-2017-hot-rod-drag-week-rules-are-here/

Holy cow..!!! they sure narrow your options for cooperation and resource sharing....

Now I have a much better understanding of the limitations...

I had no idea.. But now fully understand why they are written the way they are...