Exactly.. I have 208VAC in the case for the motor so thats what I used.. the transformer says it puts out 32 VAC from 240VAC so from 208 it puts out 25VAC~ to BR1

you can get them on almost anything the 21si works the same too.. just look for AC and lots of options..

feel free to use a ford alt too .. basically all the same

not exactly sure how there rectifiers will hold up though... only one way to find out if you use an externally regulated alt you may not even need to open it up...

find an alt from an ambulance, im sure they would pump out the juice

I believe you can post copyrighted material only if you post it as "for educational purposes only."

What's the status on this project? Any chance you can provide sketches or wiring diagrams..along with details on the alternator, regulator and other parts used. I got a 3 HP Briggs engine and am thinking of trying to use it as a power source for this project. Eagerly waiting for detals.... am sure we all are.. Stan

Thanks for the kind words. (Good thing you didn't put any kind of measurement on those; gives me an easy out for how little I do know. I'm long-winded on the subjects but that doesn't necessarily mean I know what I'm yapping about).

It seems to me that the excellent descriptions, diagrams and images that Travis Rankin has generously shared with everyone makes a PDF with questionable copyright issues not worth the hassle. The only convenience missing is having all of Travis Rankin's work compiled into a single document. That's hardly an inconvenience at all.

I tried tracking down information regarding DIYTIGWELDER.com through http://www.archive.org and kept getting "page not found" errors. Digging into the index page showed that it was accessing john.goyk.com for a page named diysite.html. Some archived pages for john.goyk.com included a disclaimer page and an order page. The order page was last archived October 15, 2004. Whether the plans being offered there were the same 15 page PDF that you received or not is not clear.

Referring to http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/tr...blic_Domain.htm
any work published in the U.S. after March 1, 1989 is automatically protected by copyright without the requirement of a copyright notice or registration of a copyright. (Registration of a copyright is still required before any lawsuit can be filed over a work). If that PDF matches the one being sold from john.goyk.com in 2004 (and possibly 2005), it still doesn't indicate whether the work is in the public domain or not. This could be (a) a public domain work being sold, (b) a copyright-protected work being sold, with no registration or notice, (c) an "abandoned" work, which is something that is just being addressed by legislatures and courts, (d) none of the above.

The copyright issues regarding Travis Rankin's shared information here are much clearer. The messages are certainly his own original work to share and appear to be sufficiently detailed to allow anyone to create diagrammed plans for a DIY welder. The images, if looked at with a cold, hostile eye, could be someone else's. The data from some of the JPGs is consistent, even if the creation time doesn't match message time:

File name : tigmachine.jpg
File size : 113485 bytes
File date : 2006:01:22 00:26:55
Camera make : EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Camera model : KODAK CX7430 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Date/Time : 2004:01:18 07:43:51
Resolution : 600 x 1200
Flash used : Yes (auto)
Focal length : 5.6mm (35mm equivalent: 34mm)
Exposure time: 0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture : f/2.7
ISO equiv. : 80
Whitebalance : Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure : program (auto)

The "File date" is when I saved the image; "Date/Time" is the image creation date. (Somebody forget to set the clock in the camera? Almost as common as VCRs flashing "12:00"). The above is typical for the posted photos.

Again, the detailed messages are enough to build a DIY welder _even if_ you take the most hostile view of the images and consider them pilfered. The schematic posted shows a timestamp that is consistent with the message in which it appears.

Taken all together, I wouldn't worry a minute over making use of Travis Rankin's now-published plans. Copyright protects expressions of ideas, not the ideas themselves. His expression of this DIY welder is far more valuable, IMO, than the PDF because it has been freely shared, has strong indications of being original work, and was clearly posted with the intent of freely helping others.

On the other hand, that PDF _might_ be what was once offered for sale on that website. Were sales so low as to not make it worth the effort any more? That wouldn't cause it to be public domain. Was the seller doing so without authorization and the web site closed due to a cease and desist? In a world where the rule has become 'that which is not explicitly permitted is denied', it ain't worth the trouble.

(Told you I was long-winded on the subject).

uhhh, what.
its easier to beg forgiveness, than to ask permission.

Here is a link discussing how to modify the alternator Travis used. Maybe it will help a little!

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/t.molnar/Obwelder1.htm

great addition!

Hey Travis what purpose does the wound wire below and in front of your motor serve?

its an inductor.. it smooths out the welding current, and helps arc starting.. It's not exactly necessary though

I understand that field voltage governs amperage output. So is field amperage important? Will any field amperage input work?

[QUOTE=hercpilot]QUOTE]

Like the username, any chance you serve on C-130's?

Vince

For a little while longer until BRACC has it's way!

the field coil will take a max of about 7 amps, but thats uncontrollable amps is a product of resistance

Since this is a DC tig welder can you weld aluminium with it?

not with very good results...

Allthough! the power coming from the alternator is actually three phase high frequency AC. and then it is rectified to DC..

I am not sure this 3PH HFAC would work, as it never really hits zero. The three waves overlap.
But I don't fully understand how 3PH HFAC works.