Tips for choosing a welding inverter

Before people who earn their bread by their own hands, there is often a question about how to choose an inverter welding machine for work at home and at the dacha.

This kind of need arises for various reasons.

We can not say that the welding machine is the same popular device as a cooker.

At the same time, practice shows that in skilled hands, it can bring a good income in fulfilling orders for the population and small businesses.

To do this, select the appropriate model of the unit that will meet the specific requirements.

manufacturers Function of the

welding machine Today,and the principle of action.

Specialists share equipment of this kind in two groups - electric and gas.

Rating of gas equipment for home is low. Especially for the application in this area, gas systems are not produced. It is inconvenient and even unsafe to adapt operating units.

Video:

The best option for a home wizard is to choose an electric inverter welding machine.

In order to get the skills to work with such a device, you need to undergo an internship with a long-time welder or enter a professional training course.

The simplest design of the welding machine is a transformer that converts the domestic voltage 220/380 Volts into an operating voltage of 5-6V.

At the same time, the current increases from 4 amps to 60 or more. In this mode, electricity is converted into thermal energy, which is enough to melt the metal.

The arc temperature reaches 3000 - 4000 degrees. In the welding process it is important that the arc size does not change.

When the length of the arc changes, the temperature of the heating of the parts to be welded varies in certain areas. If this happens, the quality of the weld will be low.

Electric welding machines, depending on the form of operating voltage, are divided into the following types:

• welding transformers;
• welding rectifiers;
• inverters.

Before choosing a welding machine of a particular type for the house and villa, it is necessary to carefully familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the device, the conditions of its operation, storage and maintenance.

Practice shows that an inverter welding device is used sporadically. A large part of the time the unit is stored somewhere in the garage or at the dacha.

In view of this circumstance, it is necessary to provide appropriate conditions for its storage.

Welding transformers

By its design, this is the most simple and long-lasting welding machine. The principle of operation is that the voltage of the network drops to the level required for welding.

The working current value is controlled by changing the distance between the primary and secondary winding. Qualitative welding of such apparatus requires high qualification and auxiliary equipment.

At present, the welding of non-ferrous metals with such a device is no longer produced. The efficiency of the device, if all the necessary conditions are met, can reach 90%.

Much of the energy is spent on heating the transformer windings.

In the upgraded cooling models, fans are used. A serious disadvantage, which limits the use of the device at home, is its great weight.

It can reach one hundred kilograms and above. Not everyone chooses to choose such a product. With the advent of new generation devices on the market, the rating of the welding transformer has dropped.

It continues to be selected and used due to two important parameters - low cost and high reliability.

The delicacy of the situation lies in the fact that the quality of electrical energy in household networks does not always meet the requirements of the standard.

The voltage of the network can be absolutely unpredictable "prosest" or "jump".The welding transformer easily tolerates such oscillations.

Welding Rectifier

Welding rectifier is more complicated in its design than the previous type. A rectifier is a device that converts AC to DC.

The industry produces several types of welding rectifiers.

Each kind has its own design and function:

• classic;
• multi-station;
• inverter.

Any of these devices operates on the same principle. At the first stage, the mains voltage is reduced to the required value. Then the alternating current turns into a constant one.

And already the DC value is adjusted to the specific welding conditions.

Conversion of AC to DC is performed using diode or thyristor circuits. An important feature of this design is the possibility of a smooth adjustment of the operating current.

It is this function that determines the quality of the welded seam. The rectifier welding machine has a high rating among similar devices.

Video:

Multiple-purpose devices are used on large objects, where welding works are carried out on different sites. In domestic conditions, they do not apply.

The weight of the device and its dimensions are too large for use in domestic conditions. Reliability, like a classic transformer, is high.

Inverter unit

It is more convenient and practical to choose an inverter unit for a house or a dacha. For today it is the most convenient type of those used in welding.

The functional diagram of the inverter is much more complicated than that of a classic or rectifier.

The first difference is that the initial voltage of 220V and the frequency of 50Hz is converted to a frequency of more than 10kHz.

And already high frequency current is used for conversion to permanent and directly for welding.

The process of metal welding is performed with stable arc burning, which ensures high quality of the welded seam.

Unlike devices operating in the classical scheme, the inverter unit has the minimum dimensions and weight.

To achieve such a result it became possible due to the fact that the basic circuit of the inverter welding machine became more complicated.

The initial voltage is converted using power transistors and other electronic devices. This allows you to control the value of the operating voltage with great accuracy.

At present, the consumer is faced with only one question, which of the inverters to choose? The smallest models have a weight of 3 kg.

If we mention the rating, then it's the highest inverters today.

Operational parameters of

Inverter Today, a wide range of welding inverters is available on the market for use in various fields of activity.

Welding equipment is classified according to the following features:

• industrial;
• professional;
• household.

Industrial inverter devices are generally not available for free sale.

For professional equipment it makes sense to look closely if there are plans to perform welding work for the population on order. For home and dacha you need to buy household appliances.

Almost all such devices of inverter type have the designation MMA, indicating the value of the operating current.

Before you buy an inverter welding machine, you should weigh and evaluate the forthcoming amount of work and the conditions in which they will be performed.

Video:

Correctly made calculation will allow to choose the model optimally suitable for each specific case.

The semi-automatic welding inverter for car body parts repair is used at car service stations.

Practice shows that in this case you can get by with a household appliance from the middle price category.

It should be clearly understood that systematic overload of the device leads to rapid wear of components and parts. It is better to have some power reserve.

Input voltage value

When deciding which welding machine to buy, you must first pay attention to the value of the input voltage.

The technical data sheet indicates the range of permissible values.

The highest rating is for devices with a range from 170 to 250 volts. Of these models, and should make a choice.

Duration of activation

The duration of activation is indicated in percent. A good inverter has a 70% duty cycle.

This means that after ten minutes of continuous work, you must make a break for 3 minutes.

If such a break is not done, then thermal protection will work.

And still have to wait for the device to cool.

Electrode diameter

Electrodes with diameters from 1.5 to 6 mm are used for domestic work. Which one to choose is determined by the value of the working current.

The technical data sheet shows the maximum diameter of the electrode. Experienced welders advise to choose the device with a small margin.

The inverter, designed for welding an electrode with a diameter of 4 mm, works well with the "troika".

Famous companies manufacturers

When choosing a welding machine for a home, you need to pay attention to the rating of the manufacturer. Today, inverter-type welding machines are produced by companies from different countries.

The first criterion that is taken as a basis is the price of the product. The Kemppi inverter is manufactured in Finland.

For home use, this device fits better than others. However, its cost stops many buyers.

Video:

The German company Fubag produces a wide range of home appliances. Paying attention to these devices, you need to make the right choice, that you do not overpay and get a reliable product.

Before selecting an inverter, it is necessary to get acquainted with the reviews of those who already use welding machines.

It is important not to be on cheap offers. But do not overpay.