Max Open Circuit Voltage

[NorthernLights]

I had planned on purchasing a 250 amp machine, but funds and power requirements are restricting me to a 180-200 amp machine. I have been reviewing the specs for the different machines and they all seem pretty close. I did notice that they have different Max Open Circuit Voltages (Max. OVC). How does this affect the machines performance?

Both Miller machines I'm looking at (Sycrowave 180 and the Dynasty 200) have 80 VDC Max. OVC. The Lincoln PT 185 is at 75 VDC Max. OVC and the Thermal Arc PW185TSW is the lowest at 64 VDC Max. OVC. Should this make very much difference on these machines?

Kind of off-topic: Andy, it looks like Miller is the only company not offering a sub-$2,000 TIG machine with a pulser. Does it look like they may offer it on the Syncrowave 180 anytime soon? Or as a field installed option able to retrofit existing machines?

[fun4now]

NorthernLights

they offer a pulser for the syncro 180 now. it however is limited and no where near the same as you would get from the dynasty series.

as for power requirments the dynasty 200 will give you the most output amps with the least input. getting you 200 amps out for less than 30amps in. the TA185 will want 38amps to get ya 185amps out then you will have the syncro series that will want 60amps in to get ya 180 out. not shoure what the red 1 wants as i never conciderd it when i was looking for a TIG. if you are limited on how much power you have to give as i am. the dynasty 200 will give you the most TIGing amps with the least draw on your circuit. it will ofcorce also make the largest draw on youre check book but you could end up getting that back in savings on youre electric bill depending on how often you use it.

[fun4now]

pc-300

the pulser is the pc-300 pulsed DC/AC TIG (GTAW) controle PT# 042 297

this is the pulser option for the syncro as well as several other miller TIG welders. hope it helps ya narow youre choices.

[NorthernLights]

Fun4now,

Thanks for the lead on the PC-300 pulser option. I did some searching on the Miller site and on Google, but did not find very much info. A smaller picture showed 4 dials and possibly 4 switches. I called my dealer and they didn't have very much other info either. They did inform me of the $683 MSRP. That would put the Syncrowave 180 within $500 of the Dynasty 200DX with the air cooled contractors kit. I am going in next week to demo the Syncrowave 180 SD and Thermal Arc PW185TSW at my local supplier. Too bad they don't have a Dynasty 200DX to demo. I'll call around to a few other shops to see if I can find a Dynasty 200DX to try out.

Just need to find out about Max OCV. Must be important, otherwise the manufacture's wouldn't list it on the spec sheets. The glossary in the back of the Miller catalog states:

Open-Circuit Voltage (OCV) - As the name implies, no current is flowing in the circuit because the circuit is open. The voltage is impressed upon the circuit, however, so that when the circuit is completed, the current will flow immediately.

I guess this means that the higher OCV available is able to provide more "work" when the curcuit is completed. More must be better and Miller provides the most.

[Paul Seaman]

Northern lights:
The dynasty 200dx also has an advanced waveform shape adjustment. You can adjust the Htz output I think it will go as high as 250 cycles/sec. The sync is set at 60. The difference is a world, you can't believe! I know the features abilities but it is still above my capabilities, If you already tig you won't go home without the D200DX, its that good!!!
Peace,

[NorthernLights]

Just got off the phone with the two other distributors I have locally and they don't have any Dynasty 200DX's. In fact, doesn't sound like they have even ever sold any Dynasty's. Maybe the people locally are stuck on the transformer based machines.

I'll just have to do more research on-line. From what I gather here on this forum and others, is that the Dynasty is awesome. On the other hand, I have heard the TA 185 is great also. The specs do show the Miller machines have a slight advantage. If the Syncrowave 180SD had a built-in pulser, I'd buy it immediately and then just save up for a Syncrowave 250DX or a Dynasty 300DX later on.

[ASKANDY]

N.L.
Good ?s.

If you are not in a hurry, the New Sync 180 might have a pulser. The higher open circuit voltage is suppose to help during starting but the difference between 75 and 80 is not much to squabble about.

A-

[Mike W]

Don't get too hung up about getting a pulser. Most of them are never used. My old Linde arc welder (now converted into a tig) has two output voltage ranges. One at 80 volts and the other at 55? The old motor generator sets had a bunch of different possibilities. Each voltage combined with the current control would give a different slope to the output.

[fun4now]

NorthernLights

have you considerd renting a dynasty ??? around here i think its like 100/150 a week. might be werth it to try it

[NorthernLights]

N.L.
Good ?s.

If you are not in a hurry, the New Sync 180 might have a pulser. The higher open circuit voltage is suppose to help during starting but the difference between 75 and 80 is not much to squabble about.

A-

The numbers I mentioned were specs listed in the manufacturer's literature and machine owner's manuals. For some reason, the manufacturers don't publish specs at the same duty cycle for direct comparisions. I spent some time looking through everything and ended up utilizing duty cycle charts in the manuals to compile a comparison table. This was strictly for my own use, but I decided to share it here with everyone. Please remember, I was utilizing the published specs and have no way of verifying that they are accurate.

Link to TIG machine comparision table
I also attached a .pdf of the same table.

From what I gather, either the Miller Syncrowave 180SD or the Thermal Arc PW 185TSW would be the best performance for the dollar. They cover practically the same amperage range for all processes (TIG/ Stick - AC/DC). The Thermal Arc M.S.R.P. is $141 dollars more than the Miller, but the TA has a built-in pulser. The TA does have less Open Circuit Voltage than the Miller with 64 V vs. 80 V.

Again, from specs only, the Lincoln PT 185 seems to lack at 40% duty cycle. Maybe that is why they don't publish these numbers for direct comparisions. It does have a built-in pulser which gives it a feature over the Miller Syncrowave 180, but I don't think I'd sacrifice performance (amperage vs. duty cycle) for the pusler, unless I was just utilizing the machine for thin materials.

I threw the Miller Dynasty 200DX into my table because I was thinking of possibly spending the extra money and wanted to compare it to the lower end machines. The Dynasty 200DX obviously posted better specs than the other machines (as I expected), except vs. the TA in stick performance. I don't know how to explain this. Could be over-rated specs from TA or even under-rated specs from Miller.

Right now, I am in a toss up between the Miller Syncrowave 180SD and the Thermal Arc PW 185TSW. I will be testing both machines this coming week and see if performance backs up the specs. I might be leaning toward the TA a little because of the pulser, but definately would wait for a pulser equipped Sycrowave 180SD if it were coming out in the next 30 - 60 days.

[NorthernLights]

N.L.
Good ?s.

If you are not in a hurry, the New Sync 180 might have a pulser. The higher open circuit voltage is suppose to help during starting but the difference between 75 and 80 is not much to squabble about.

A-

Andy,

Is there any word of when we MAY expect to see a new Sync 180 being released? I've been ready to buy a machine for about a month and a half now. I would hold my purchase for the 180 with a pulser if a release date was known.

Thanks,
N.L.

[ASKANDY]

Still prototypes right now. No field test units yet so your a ways off.

a

[NorthernLights]

Andy,

Thanks for the update. Spoke to one of the dealer's today and stated where I was on my purchase decision. They are willing to work with me. I may just buy the Syncrowave 180 now and with the understanding I'll upgrade to the newer Sycrowave 180 later or maybe even upgrade to a Dynasty 200DX or a Syncrowave 250DX.

We both agreed that a year old or so machine (Miller of course) wouldn't depreicate too much.

[KB Fabrications]

Don't get too hung up about getting a pulser. Most of them are never used.

Hey Mike W,
I'm curious as to this statement and was wondering how you came to this conclusion. I have been welding for years (mostly in the bicycle industry) and know the pulser as a great asset, esp. on thinner gauge material. It can be especially helpful when welding material of different thicknesses such as joining some .035" to a piece of .095" (4130 chromoly). It is also beneficial (using the right filler adding technique) in producing very asthetic weld bead patterns, at least in my experience.

No matter what, it is a very effective way of welding that helps to reduce heat input, can help to control warpage, and as I said above can produce asthetic weld bead patterns. I would welcome an opinion to the contrary but would also recommend not steering someone away from the feature without a strong reason.

[Haz]

I agree with Kevin, one of my machines is a Precision Tig 185, I use the pulser quite often. It's really good for controlling burn thru on thin metal and aluminum. I especially like the great looking beads you get on aluminum.

Just my $.02 , Bruce