Capacitors are devices which constantly charge and discharge voltages. The main components of concern are capacitors. In order to significantly reduce the size of the transformer and achieve the many advantages that the inverter gives us (reduced size/weight, etc), the input power must be ‘treated’ before it enters the transformer - in other words instead of immediately passing through the transformer, it first passes through sensitive electronic components. Lack of maintenance: A poorly maintained generator will behave in the same way that a poor quality generator does.Additional loads: The use of other devices (eg grinder, cut-off saw, etc) on the same generator and at the same time as the welding machine can cause overloading, and therefore cause power fluctuations, if the generator size is not sufficient.This over-revving the generator will very likely increase the voltage output, sometimes to a dangerous level. Then when the load is removed (eg when welding stops), the engine will typically over-rev until the governor returns the engine to idle speed. Generator size: A generator that is under-sized &/or over-loaded will work very hard to try and maintain sufficient current supply. Fuel supply interruption: Like start up and shut down, if the generator runs out of fuel, or if there is a ‘hiccup’ in the fuel supply, the engine will typically speed up and slow down very spasmodically, again causing power fluctuations.Start up and Shut down: When starting and stopping a generator the engine is obviously not running smoothly and at a constant speed and therefore the output of the generator is very likely to fluctuate with engine speed. While these cheaper generators may ran basic power tools without a problem, they are not suitable for running inverter-based machines because the voltage is likely to fluctuate and spike at an unacceptably severe level. In recent years the market has faced a lot of imports of cheap, poor quality generators with unacceptably high THD ratings (over 6%). An acceptable THD rating in a portable generator is generally considered to be 6% or less. This degree of variation from perfect sine wave power is measured as a percentage called ‘Total Harmonic Distortion’ or THD. Generator Quality: All portable generators typically produce inconsistent power when compared to perfect sine wave power.In a generator, voltage surges and spikes can occur due to a number of reasons, including: Generator power can also be characterised by voltage ‘surges’ (a rise in voltage) and voltage ‘spikes’ (very sudden peaks of excessive voltage). The peaks, troughs and cycle frequency will not be consistent even though the average output power may still read 240V on a simple measuring device like a multimeter. On the other hand, power supply from a portable generator is, by comparison, typically ‘dirty’. Mains power is (usually) relatively close to perfect sine power and therefore it rarely poses any problems. When it comes to running equipment with sensitive electronics (like inverter machines and computers) power supply with a perfectly clean sine wave is the safest, however in reality this is almost impossible to achieve.Ī perfectly ‘clean’ 240V single phase AC sine wave would look something like this: Why is generator power potentially harmful ?ĪC (mains) power supply follows a pattern called a sine wave. But not all machines have the protection required to avoid damage from ‘dirty’ or unpredictable generator power supply in the long term.Ģ. Sure, plug virtually any inverter welder into a generator and it will likely operate to some level. The truthful answer is not always a "yes". So it's no surprise that one of the first questions operators ask before they consider purchasing an inverter welding machine is: “is it safe to run off a generator?”. This is especially the case with smaller generator sets that are often chosen for operating the likes of power tools and welders, due to their portability and affordability.Īt the same time, the ability to use generator power offers many advantages to operators wanting to run their inverter welding machines in the field or on-site where it is impossible or difficult to access mains power. Tips for purchasing a suitable generatorĬompared to mains power, generator power can be characteristically ‘dirty’ and thus has the potential to damage sensitive electronic components inside inverter welding machines.Can I use a small(er) generator to run my welder?.Guidelines for generator use with inverter welders.Why is generator power potentially harmful?. We answer all these questions and more! Here's what we cover in this article Can I use my welder on a generator? What size generator do I need to run an inverter welder?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |