could somebody tell me the difference between 3 & 1 phase in a inverter type welder? I under stand 3 phase and it's relationship to electric motors, but welders???? Reason i ask is because i have a great opportunity to get the inverter i want, "cheap" but it's 3 phase, and i know all about rotary/static converters,or VFD, i built one. I don't want to go that rout. I want to change the guts of the welder to run on 220 1 phase. as you may or may not know, some welders come from the factory as 3 or 1 phase, just switch wires around and that's it. I know there is no difference in the electronics/ PCB. so what is different?
I'm guessing it's just the input transformer and having six SCR's instead of four. I fixed a few welders about 23 or so years ago and this is all I think I remember.
here's a picture that shows DC, rectified single-phase AC and rectified 3-phase - you can see that you would get a more steady arc from the rectified 3-phase.
See if the mfg. has a web site and go there to find out about the machine your looking at. Many times they will list all the options and features of what they sell or have made in the past.
I was at the Lincoln site before i asked the question, there answer was "Not practical to change it" Well it is to me, about $1000 bucks worth........I'm also thinking it is only a transformer swap. a schematic gives the tap Voltage, so it's just a mater of finding the Tf. to fit, and of course the right taps.
What you need is the print from the welder you are buying and the print from the same model in single phase. Then you can compare the two, many times the part numbers are there to help you along.
Can you buy this welder and trade it in on the model you want?
Good Luck
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