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Battery Welding?


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Has anyone ever performed SMAW with a couple, or three, car batteries wired in series, or an externally regulated alternator?

 

Also, there is a MIG kit commercially available.

 

I've heard that car batteries can deliver more amperage than the average residential wiring can,  As such, residential welders tap into the 220v, not because 110v can't strike a decent electrical arc, but because they provide the amperage.  For me, it is more about the lack of a garage, than it is about getting the electrical hookup.

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Well, car batteries can provide hundreds of amps. If welding something small it will just fry it. What I have seen is a car charging a battery and keeping it charged up just enough for what you need. And I've see a tractor used to weld a plough using the generator. Naturally this is almost a dead short to ground and very hard on an alternator so it was used sparingly with lots of time down to cool it off. I have an Altima 100 amp alternator in my 710 so newer cars would be a good source for higher amperage alternators.

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I used a Ready Welder for 5 years at home, cost me $350 when it first came out and they only offered 1 model then.

 

Hooked up 2-3 car batteries in series depending on thickness, used 31series Big Rig batteries.

 

Just a spool gun connected to batteries.

 

As long as batteries were kept charged up, it really liked 1/4" and bigger material, anything smaller than that it would burn through unless batteries were nearly dead.

 

They also sell the On-Board power supplies for these used on Off-Road trail Jeepers.

 

Here is the setup: http://premierpowerwelder.com/and the welder: http://readywelder.com/

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I used a car battery welder.  It worked, my Millers are way better.  Would be a sweet portable setup though.  My TIG welder can pull 150amps out of a 220v service.  For full duty cycle it needs 3 phase.  

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