Generator size to power my lincoln electric sp-135t

[Dodgefran]

I have put myself in a bad situation. I've moved and my 38 Dodge Humpback Panel truck is in a storage unit with no electricity. Can anyone help me on ideas of the size of a generator I need to get to safely power my Lincoln Electric SP 135t. Thanks

[Reno]

The spec sheet calls for a minimum of 20 amp and maximum of 25 amps, so a 2000 to 3000 should handle it. Bigger would allow for some area lighting.

Love the Humpbacks!

[metal manny]

I guess you'll get a generator with an output of 110 V? At this voltage you should get about +9 amps per kVa, which means you'd need a minimum gennie size of around 2,5kVa to power the welder. With this said though, I run a welder off my generator on our farm and what typically happens with small gennies is that the second a load is applied in striking the arc, you find that the engine revs drop off as the unit tries to throttle up to compensate - dropping the power supply drastically. This is really not workable and will end in utter frustration.

To cover all eventualities, I have used the maximum demand of your welder based on maximum output of the gennie as an example, but if you're only welding thin sheet at a lower setting, then a 2,5kVa machine might prove OK.

If you can afford it, go for a bigger unit (5,5kVa upwards), or better still, hire a 2,5 from the local hire shop and test it before signing the check.

[cvairwerks]

Depending on how much welding you need to do, might be easier in the long run to rent something like a Miller Bobcat for a day.

[Marc Bourget]

My genset has a switch that bypasses the auto throttle and runs it at a set RPM


Not economical, but it does avoid the problem mentioned above.


FWIW

[Dodgefran]

Thanks to all of you. I still have to fab my patch panels for the beading all around the truck. Then I'll have to fit them and tack them on. Then, I suspect, that I'll be doing a lot of fill in welding. So I want to get this right. That's why I've been a member her for quite a while. Thanks again.

Fran