Add 220v to Harbor Freight 3500 predator

[CamaroMan]

Hey guys - I watched a video of a guy switching from a 220 to 110 on a predator generator here

Would someone be willing to offer some assistance in doing the opposite? Installing a 2 pole breaker with a switch so I can run 220 (110 from each coil) on each of the 110 (assuming they each run off a separate coil) - OR take one leg from the RV plug and one leg from the 110 outlet? ie combine a 110 leg from 2 separate coils into a 2 pole breaker -id like to keep the switchability instead of hard wiring it.. or could I keep the 3 110's (1 RV 15a and 2 110s) and just daisy on the 2 pole breaker? And could I run a separate wire from each 110 coil into a 220 plug and skip the 2 pole breaker?

Thing is i have a small dual voltage welder and hoping the 220 will get me a better weld on a 1/8 rod than 110..

Im from a 220 country - so curious if 220 at half the amps does the same job as 110 on double amps? ie would i notice the difference or not?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What make and model welder do you have?

3500w is only 14a @ 240v

If that generator even has 240v capability, it wont be able to run any significant welder.

 

[MattT]

Im from a 220 country - so curious if 220 at half the amps does the same job as 110 on double amps? ie would i notice the difference or not?

It's the same amount of power. Whether you'd see any improvement will depend on how much power your welder can draw from a 120v circuit. My Maxstar 200A inverter can pull over 30A on 120V so it runs 1/8" rods well on a 120V 30A RV circuit. The smaller Maxstar 150A machines are more limited on 120V and need 240V to run 1/8" rods well.

So check the specs on your machine. They should tell you whether you'll gain anything by stepping up to 240V input.

 

[CamaroMan]

These are the specs -

Ive only arc welded with it but it works pretty well - I get nice beads when i use 3/16.. 1/8 takes a little more finesse and I cant run it too long - but it works ok.. if 220 will give it a bump in performance ill be happy-

 

[MattT]

These are the specs -

Ive only arc welded with it but it works pretty well - I get nice beads when i use 3/16.. 1/8 takes a little more finesse and I cant run it too long - but it works ok.. if 220 will give it a bump in performance ill be happy.

Can't really tell much from those "specs". Other than it probably can't fly since the fuselage is made of iron

Best thing to do would be hook it up to a 240v source and try it to see if there's any improvement.

Also are you running 60xx rods or 70xx? 120A should be OK for 60xx but is on the low side for 70xx.

 

[CamaroMan]

60XX rods - yes the 70** seem to strike/weld worse- maybe ill try it on a 220 and see- thanks chaps

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yeah thats a no go.

Arc welding needs 22a = 5280w and your generator is 3500.

 

[MattT]

Yeah thats a no go.

Arc welding needs 22a = 5280w and your generator is 3500.

But is that 22A at 120V or 240V since the machine is dual voltage?