Your thoughts on this cheap tig

Coils · Post by **Coils** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:06 am

Seen this and want some input.
I know it's not a pro quality unit, but for doing small jobs and tinkering.

I'm also going to put this in the Forced Induction area.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=91811

scott the viking · Post by **scott the viking** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:52 am

I really think this would work just fine in a "hobby shop situation". I can not give you a first hand experiance on it (hopfully someone can). I CAN tell you that the one I have is not a top of the line unit, and I use it nearly every day, and have not has a single problem yet.

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:33 pm

can you get 220v in the US. I thought it was all 110v?

R2.0 · Post by **R2.0** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:50 pm

wizard wrote:can you get 220v in the US. I thought it was all 110v?

Every dwelling in the US is wired with 220-240v service. It gets distributed throughout the house as 120 or 240 - 120 for convenience outlets and lighting, 240 for heavy loads - HVAC, cooking, etc.

wizard · Post by **wizard** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:24 pm

poop, wish I knew that last week. I was in NY i would have got a tig machine while the exchange rate is nearly $2 to the pound....

Live and learn

Kubel Nick · Post by **Kubel Nick** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:19 pm

The plug would need to be changed still to fit the UK standards. US 120v plug is different from US 220v plug, US 220v plug different from UK 220v plug. Our 220v plugs is more for industrial use (clothe dryer, ovens, etc) and are about 4" diamter plugs, not really made for portability useage.

Coils · Post by **Coils** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:30 am

Thanks for the replies.

Nick there are two style of 220V plugs, that I know of. The one you discribed for driers & stoves is for 3 phase 220V. There is also a 2 phase 220V that uses a little heavier plug then 110V, but instead of the two blades of the plug being parallel to each other, like this l l, the 220V style one is like this - l . I hope you get what I mean.

R2.0 · Post by **R2.0** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:33 am

NEMA Straight Blade Configurations

There are LOTS of 240v plugs and receptacles.

Regarding bringing the equipment to England, one would simply snip off the existing plug (assuming it even has one) and put on a British standard one. You will also need to look up the specs regarding line frequency - UK is a 50Hz, US at 60Hz. Main issue is with motors - they run slower. I think a welder gets derated a little bid, but I could be wrong.

gustme · Post by **gustme** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 8:25 pm

It's not quite that simple. There's diff in the cycle between us 220 and euro 220 (50/60) it matters

Coils · Post by **Coils** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 12:20 am

OK on the many plugs, I new there were more then 2 but didn't think all those were out there.
Oh yeah it doesn't come with a plug, you have to get & attatch your own.

Poor Realist · Post by **Poor Realist** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:18 am

This is an interesting topic for me since I'll be heading abroad in the next few months. Will a US 220v welder or other 220v piece of equipment function reliably on Eurospec 220v? How does the 3phase/whatever phase play into all this.

I do know that DeWalt rechargeable power tools work just fine if you get a different charger...

The more I know, the more I can bring with me at 50% off (or more)

scott the viking · Post by **scott the viking** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:45 pm

What I would like to know is......in what state are you guys getting three phase power to your home? Where I live, and everywhere I have ever lived, all you can get to a residence is single phase power in 110 and 220. Three phase is for businesses, such as machine shops (me) and other outfits that run large electric machinery. Is this a west coast only law?

R2.0 · Post by **R2.0** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:16 pm

Who said anything about 3 phase? 120 & 240 are typically supplied in the US to households; that is what we were talkng about.

BTW, you can get 3 phase to your house - it's just really expensive with no real advantage at the kind of loads a house uses.

scott the viking · Post by **scott the viking** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:51 am

Coils wrote:Thanks for the replies.

Nick there are two style of 220V plugs, that I know of. The one you discribed for driers & stoves is for 3 phase 220V. There is also a 2 phase 220V that uses a little heavier plug then 110V, but instead of the two blades of the plug being parallel to each other, like this l l, the 220V style one is like this - l . I hope you get what I mean.

Since you asked, THIS is who mentioned 3 phase. I have tried to get three phase for my home shop and was told by P.U.D that I cannot run it to my " residential shop". I know, just because someone at the power company told me that, does not make it gossple, but they sounded sure enough.

R2.0 · Post by **R2.0** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:15 pm

Whoops, you are right - didn't see the reference.

As for not getting 3 phase, you probably didn't wave enough money at them. It is NOT cheap, and they may have just assumed you weren't serious enough to pay the freight.