If you’re in the market for a welding generator, there are several factors to consider before purchasing. If you don’t consider each of these essential elements when searching for a generator, you might end up with a machine that doesn’t suit your needs or budget, causing you to get another generator later—wasting both your money and time. Follow this guide to ensure that you get the best possible product when purchasing your welding generator.
1. Volts and Amps
First and foremost, you need to consider volts and amps when looking at welding equipment. Power is equal to the voltage multiplied by amperage. A 1,000-amp generator might provide 4,000 volts if that’s what it can put out at 1,000 amps. The more power you have available, the more welders you can run simultaneously. However, each tool requires its dedicated circuit—you can’t just plug several of them into one outlet.
2. Duty Cycle
If you’re running more than one tool at once, you’ll want to ensure your generator is rated for that much work. For example, suppose your machine can produce 3KW of power, and you’re welding 1KW of metal on top of another 900W laser cutters, grinders, or other tools. In that case, you may need to look for a generator with a higher wattage capacity.
3. Sound Level
The volume at which your generator will produce power can be essential in deciding if it’s right for you. Higher sound levels may lead to complaints from your neighbors, so research units that are quieter than others. Plus, a loud unit won’t do you any good if people can hear it several hundred feet away—the goal is to reduce sound, not amplify it.
4. Duty Factor or Load Capacity
The duty factor is one of your most important considerations when choosing a generator. Essentially, it refers to how much power you’ll need at any time. For example, if you were welding at 80 percent capacity—and not using power tools or any other appliances—you would only need about 4 kilowatts (4,000 watts) for your welder.
5. Fuel Source
You should first consider what fuel source your generator will run on. Modern generators are typically powered by natural gas, propane, diesel, or gasoline, so which one do you choose? What’s most convenient for you and your business? You don’t necessarily have to use one of these four options—some machines have special tanks that enable them to use multiple fuel sources.
Conclusion
Many elements go into buying a welding generator, so you must consider all of them. The five outlined above are some of the most important things to consider before purchasing. When evaluating which generator will be best for your needs and budget, keep these in mind. We hope you shall be able to make the best choice. For further details and questions, you can click the link mentioned above.
