I need to do some welding jobs around the farm. I have a small DC inverter welder that will do the job. I generally weld at 80-100A. I need to rent or buy a portable generator for this. How big a generator do you need to drive a welder? Or is is better to use a generator/welder unit that is designed for the job?

On 2020/09/21 at 10:39 AM, DeepBass9 said:

I need to do some welding jobs around the farm. I have a small DC inverter welder that will do the job. I generally weld at 80-100A. I need to rent or buy a portable generator for this. How big a generator do you need to drive a welder? Or is is better to use a generator/welder unit that is designed for the job?

No one has tried welding with a generator? Is this just a software forum now?😝

37 minutes ago, DeepBass9 said:

No one has tried welding with a generator? Is this just a software forum now?😝

If I am correct, input amps on these run between 20 and 30 amps

That means that you will be looking at between 4.4KW and 6.6KW on the input side. Generator should be able to comfortably handle these loads.

If you stay below the 100 amps you would probably get away closer to the 4.4KW, which implies a generator the comfortably produces 5KW.

Well this is how I see it at least. But generally that is why I do not even run one of these small inverter welders off a normal 16 amp plug as the draw can easily exceed that, which is not something you should be doing for prolonged periods.

Hope this helps

OK, so quite a substantial generator. 7.5 kVA or bigger. Thanks.

I have run my 200A Thermax on a cheapie 2.2kW chinese generator.  Worked fine, but IIRC I was welding sheet at about 60A.  Not sure how it would do at higher Amperages.

Nice article I found that speaks to exactly this question

https://www.weldclass.com.au/blog/47-using-generators-to-power-inverter-welders-your-questions-answered