is it possible?

[welder_one]

i have a legend 200 le. older machine a/c d/c. i wonder if i can use a voltage sensing suitcase feeder on this machine? it is a cc machine. any help please.

[DDA52]

Yes, it is. A VS feeder that is cc/cv capable is what you need to use. You would really be limited to flux core, no solid wire unless all you want to do is spray transfer. I ran my Bobus like that with f/c and CC for quite a while, so I know it will work.

[Jolly Roger]

I don't know what model millers is, but the lincoln ln-25 (expensive but I like it) and the thermal arc hefty/heftyII will both work with it. The only real difference between the two is the lincoln is a little more well made. Most of them are built for cv machines, only a very few will work with cc.

[DDA52]

Off th etop of my head, here are some Millers......8VS, 12VS, 12VS xtreme, S-32P...I think any of the old S-32's, 3045FC, and maybe more. The older ones may not be CC/CV...some weren't. My S-23P is the oldest one I have and it is CC/CV.

[welder_one]

dda52, why only a spray transfer? and the flux core, are you talking about self shielded?

[DDA52]

Yes, self shielded flux core is what I mean....dual shield as well. The reason no short circuit is because of voltage issues coming from the CC. Use CV and it isn't a problem. Yours may do it, but it is doubtful. It just runs hotter in CC that what short circuit will allow for. I could never get mine below globular transfer with solid wire. A unit like the 3045FC might allow short circuit since the feeder is powered by a seperate 115vac feed. Not sure since they were discontinued before I got one. I see them from time to time on Ebay, though.

[welder_one]

ok, thanks man. maybe i just need to finally retire the old boy and get a new trailblazer 275 witha dynasty 200 for a/c stuff. my wife's not gonna want to hear this...lol

[DDA52]

I wouldn't unless it was absolutely necessary. The AEAD's have just as good an arc as the TB's do....three phase, four pole. Nice and smooth. I cut my teeth on one. You could always fine a stand alone feeder that would run off of the aux power to handle the thin stuff...a MM140 or HH 140 for instance...and use the feeder for big stuff. It can work like that easily and cheaper. I picked up my TB in Nov last year...they ain't cheap.

[welder_one]

well i understand that they are not cheap, but it is also time that i do a little updating. i have owned this machine since '94 and it is getting a little tired. i get the case of "welder envy" on jobsites...lol. i dunno, would the tb be a good machine? i used to do mostly structural steel, and high pressure stuff in the quarries, so all i needed was a stick machine, and generator. now i am doing alot of different stuff that gets time crunching. i would like to update to a big enough feeder that i can feed aluminum in the field, or mig stainless too. what would you suggest for a machine and feeder???

[DDA52]

I believe the TB to be the best unit for a wide variety of work. My Bobus Catus did just fine for structural and repair work in the normal range. When I started running big wire, dual shield, and doing abnormal stuff, that is when I went to the TB and man what a difference it made. I got the 302 for the simple fact it is rated at 325 amps in wire mode. Mine has even put out 350 a few times. That extra power makes all the difference when running wire. With stick only on the Bobus, it was never an issue. But, stick is so much better on the TB, that alone will make it worthwhile.

I run two feeders on my TB302...a 12RC and a Super S-32P vs feeder. I run the 12RC for most everything and the S-32P fof far away from the machine work and big flux core that will not need a lot of voltage adjusting.

I think I dropped about 5800 or so on my TB and new 12RC and cable. IMO, it was well worth it...swmbo even said that the other day. She wasn't really onboard at first. Now that she is....I'm getting worried.

[welder_one]

my wife has given me a go ahead on o tb 275, with suitcase. the dynasty will have to come later. i get called alot for aluminum in the field and i need something a little more portable then a synchro 200. thanks for your help..

[DDA52]

Cool. I almost got the TB275. They shipped the wrong unit from Dallas to my LWS. They said they would make me a great deal on it if I wanted it, but I definitely need the extra wire power of the 302, so I passed.....but I did think about it for a day. For the majority of my work, that unit would be just fine. It is that 5-10% or sometimes more that need the extra oomph that made me go with the 302. You should be very happy with it. Learning to use the dig feature is cool. Once you have it figured out, stick can be fun again...it was for me at least.


Which suitcase?

[welder_one]

the 12 vs extreme. i have asked a few people about it and so far it seems pretty good... any thoughts?

[DDA52]

That should be a very good unit. VS definitely has its place. I mainly use it for long runs away from the machine and when the settings don't need switching on flux core....If I have to change a lot, I'll use the 12RC. The 12RC will have a better action. It will be more like running a shop unit than a remote feeder. When I tested out my S-32P with solid wire on the TB, I really liked the way it welded like that. The 12RC was just a tad better, but this was no slouch, that was for certain. Since the Xtreme is two generations from the S-32P, I can reasonably assume it will be fine. Some things I liked about them was standard with meters and the ability to go to 14vdc. All the older one can't go below 15vdc. It just gives you a little more range, that's all.


Just don't park your truck on it.....I don't care what the sales brochure says!

[Steve]

Tried our s-32p in shop but it didn't work out with three other welders running and the air compressor kicking in. The wire feed was erratic. Worked fine on the diesel welder.