Topic: On board welder

[rsturton]

Has anyone here built an on board welder for there rig.  I have an on board air system and want to put an on board welder on to.  I have a little 110 flux core welder in the garage and it works pretty well at mild fabrication but i need to get a arc welder. I figured that it might better to just build one on my jeep then go by one for the garage.  This way if I need it on the trail then I have it.  It will probably cost a lot less to build the on board version to.  I want to use the idea that they have here http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/on-boardwelder/index.html.  Has anyone used this style of on board welder, and if so how do I wire up the alternator to the 110-volt power supply? I was thinking about using a 170 amp alternetor from a dodge caravan I found on ebay.

[aw12345]

You need an alternator that is easy to full field. I.E engerize the field fully, once that is done you use engine rpm to increase voltage to what you want. Any altrnator will work but the older ones with external regulators are easiest to fully enegize the field windings, they use the 110 volt convertor thing so you can use the alternator for regular charging and then simply switch it to welding/110 volts for electrical tools . If you use an alternator specifically for welding you do not need the convertor all you need is a switch and battery voltage to the field winding to fully energize it. From there you just weld away

[rsturton]

I would like to only use one alternator for charging and welding because I don't have much space in my engine compartment.  I already have an on board air compressor in where my factory ac compressor goes, so I am workin g with limited space.  I also dont think it is to bad an idea to have the 110-volt power supply for tools.  I do alot of wheeling close to home now but am looking towards going on trips to other states where I can do more.  In northwest ohio there isnt really any where to go so if i want to do any real wheeling then i am going to have to travel.

[Jeffy]

I would like to only use one alternator for charging and welding because I don't have much space in my engine compartment.  I already have an on board air compressor in where my factory ac compressor goes, so I am workin g with limited space.  I also dont think it is to bad an idea to have the 110-volt power supply for tools.  I do alot of wheeling close to home now but am looking towards going on trips to other states where I can do more.  In northwest ohio there isnt really any where to go so if i want to do any real wheeling then i am going to have to travel.

Then you will want this  Or maybe do a dual battery setup and get a ReadyWelder.  Better still, get BOTH and use them together!

[rsturton]

I've looked at the premium power and the mobi-ark style of welders and have decided that if i can build one for 1/4 the price then I'm going to go that route. Sorry I am way to cheap to spend money on something that I can build my self.  I'm in college now for computer electronics engineering technology so if i have any problems with the wiring i can ask my instructor totake a look at it.  On the web site that I mentioned they show the set up but they don't state how to wire it up.  Does any one know of any sites that show how to wire the alternator using the 110-volt power supply with the welder.  I under stand that the power supply will come with directions but I don't think that they are going to tell me how to wire up the welding stinger and ground clamp.

[aw12345]

All this power convertor ( its not really a power convertor) does is full field the alternator or when turned off it allows it to charge the battery normally. Basically what it does is to either full field an externally regulated alternator or when switched off it allos the external regulator to control the alternator output voltage

[Magical_Merlin]

Anyone try to run a 110 welder of a power inverter? Was wondering of this would work? As long as you have a big enough inverter, why not?

[rsturton]

It would probably work, but it would take a pretty big inverter.  Also carrying a 110 welder would take up a lot of space.  I also think that building an on board welder is cheaper then buying one.  I have also heard that the alternator welders work pretty well do to the high frequency of the current that the alternator makes.

[jcsanders79]

All I know is that the guys with on board welders get called on the CB 10X more than the rest of us!!! So go for it

[Magical_Merlin]

A small wire feed welder at HF is 115 v at 15 Amps is $119. A small constant 2000 watt inverter is $189. For a total of $309. Plus this gives 110v for other uses if needed. How much are these other welders you guys are speaking of?

[rsturton]

Well if you just want to go with the welder then all you need is a old ford external alterator that is above 70 amp and you can get them on ebay for around 50 bucks.  I found a 160 amp on for 85 bucks that will work better and if you wand to run a 110 v plug then you can get the power supply converter from napa for around $115. look at the link that i previously posted for the part #. I still dont know how they hooked everything up.  I googled on board welders and found a lot of info on making my own but the one on pirate4x4 looks the best because it uses just one alternator.

[rsturton]

This is a arc welder set up and will get a lot more penetration then any 110 wire welder will get. i have a 110 wire welder and it works ok for small jobs but does not get the penetration that the arc welder at work got at the same amp and volts.  i made samples with both welders and cut them with the band saw they had at work to check the welds. If your fixing something that needs to get you home then you really want to have the hotter welder.