The inductor won't help overmuch. You need a sustained voltage to keep
the arc going and the inductor won't provide that. If you have enough
volts to sustain the arc, you have enough to strike it.
Sorry I wasnt detailed enough, ie For an inductor to give more voltage
than the batteries would supply it would need an interruptor, so that
V=Ldi/dt could do its thing. Saw this site
http://www.readywelder.com
and guessed the little control box was prob a fast high current switch
at maybe 1KHz and using the inductance of the cables given the current
is high...
If you are trying to use less battery voltage than will sustain a
reasonable length of arc, then you can use a small hv invertor with a
secondary electrode to sustain it. The sort used to light oil-fired
burners works quite well - I've used one with 24v of battery to arc weld
using coated electrodes. It's easier than using a regular arc welder as
the arc strikes before the rod actually touches the metal.
mmmm, Thats another idea and I like the potential for it to ease the
starting of the arc. Have a regular arc welder but not happy with using
it for the Aluminium manifold setup I want to make a proof of concept
You could get an inverter-type mig/tig set and bring out the primary DC
connections - and connect those to your chain of deep cycle battteries -
not car batteries. eg
http://www.trojan-battery.com/
I can get lots of cheap car batteries and dont care if they die but then
the time and effort carrying them around may not be worth it. I actually
do have a 3-phase mig but not in working condition, when I get it fixed
I guess I could get an alternate transformer for it.
ie. Leave the old one in place, get a companion transformer for single
phase that would be at the max of its rating for a single phase supply,
and just rewire the secondary into the 3-phase unit and the correct feed
for the controls etc.
However, be very very careful. There is shedloads of power there to kill
you thousands of times over and burn your place down in an instant. Plus
the usual fire risks of batteries charging. Plus welding using lots and
lots of watts - that's why welders need 3 phase supplies. Your bank of
batteries is going to empty very quickly.
Yeah there is a lot of potential for bangs, not least of which is the
ease with which H2 explodes, and its propensity to stick to static
surfaces all over the place and not rise like it does in Hollywood.
Anyone that wants to use H2 with all its safety and energy density issues
for terrestrial transport has never done a thermodynamic analysis
Can't you just hire a suitable generator/ mobile welder or use gas?
I presume that you mean 3" wide bar and not 3" thick plate?
I prefer gas welding - easier to use a gas welder to heat a mug of soup..
Other option was going to be a single phase motor to 3-phase alternator,
I recall a few units around years ago. All in one, ie Windings on same
rotor/stator - no coupling to another spinning part etc.
But for that price I can probably get a small s/h 3-phase gen set.
Re plate, yeah meant to say 0.3" and lots of pipe, have done steel mig
but never ally mig so will need to experiment a heap, especially if I
want to make an aluminium coffee cup... mmmm Start with a dish and layer
it up around the top edge each time I want to rewarm it
thanks
--
Regards
Mike
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