Well today for the first time I had my whole setup out on a jobsite.
Coleman Powermate 5500 Generator. Miller Maxstar 200DX Inverter.
3 Yellow Jacket 25' x 10 ga 14L20 connector extension cords Readywelder #10250 0.035" ESAB 7100-Ultra Dual Shield wire C25 gasI had to finally weld the lower stairs in place on a jobsite I have been working on, slowly, for 6 months.
Absolutely beautiful welds. I use the 0.035" EASB 7100 Ultra Dual-shield as my standard wire in my Betamig 250 in my shop. I spooled some onto an empty 2lb. spool yesterday, using a hand drill.
(Yes I said ESAB.....I hate their machines, but love their dual shield wires)
I am so pleased with the results. I have a fully portable system that can be moved in and out of my truck easily.
See I have been avoiding the whole Welder/generator-bolted-to-the-bed-of-my-truck thing for years. I just don't want a 300-500 lb. thing permanently mounted on my truck, and I only have to do location welding a few times a year. Investing in a Lincoln or Miller generator machine has just not interested me.
Now with the combination of the Powermate generator and the Maxstar
200DX I can TIG or Stick-weld anywhere. Add in the Readywelder spoolgun and steel or aluminum MIG goes anywhere too.Portable, versatile and quite economical.
I have considered upgrading from my Maxstar 200DX to a Dynasty 200DX, but having just looked at the duty cycles of both.... The Maxstar 200DX has a 40% duty cycle at 200 amps. The Dynasty 200DX has a 20% duty cycle at 200 amps.
To get to a 40% duty cycle on the Dynasty you have to drop to 170 amps. At which point the Maxstar has more like a 65% duty cycle.
So for now I think I will stick with my Maxstar 200DX.
Oh yeah costs Maxstar 200DX $2300 (can be had for down to $1800 new now) Coleman Powermate 5500 $500 (Costco) Readywelder Spoolgun $490
The Yellow Jacket extension cords are designed for use with generators so the connectors match the standardized connectors. They can be bought with either 14L20 or 14L30 4-pin twist locks. I have 3 so I can go up to 75 feet from the machine. I happen to have chosen the 14L20 connector for my Maxstar some years ago so I can use the extension cords and just make up any adapters I need to plug the machine into anything from 110 volt to 460 volt 3 phase.
Luckily the Powermate 5500 has a 14L20 connector on the panel. Like it was destiny or something.
So I will hopefully stop grinning soon before somebody slaps the shit out of me.
Have a nice weekend all.
PS I got some "Stabil" fuel stabilizer to preserve the fuel in my generator since I will likely only use it every few months. That way I don't have to drain it between jobs.