Also the specs on the welder are its 575 single phase at 250 volt 30 amp output

 

Those spec numbers don't quite make sense.

Which model of Lincoln tig did you buy.

I know they make dedicated 575V Input machines and well yer best bet is to sell it off.

No cheap way to effectively boost your residential 240v up to 575.

 

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?35644-Transformer-to-run-460v-welder

 

Step up transformer from 240V to 575V. Call your electrician as you'll need to verify that the dedicated breaker and wiring to the transformer can handle the increased current load.

 

I get numerous requests a year to run three phase, various voltage on household power. In most cases it isn't worth the cost. Can it be done? A: Yes. Is it worth the cost? A: Not usually. A transformer capable of powering a welder won't be cheap. If you have to go three phase from single; wow!

We'll make it work. Buy a Dynasty, or a 252 and save money.

Willie

 

It's a single phase machine, just high voltage only. Somewhat common in heavy industry. Yes, in Canada 600 volts three phase is the common high voltage there. You'll find many units in industry to be either 460/575 or 575 only. Every now and then 230/460/575. There's nothing you can do to run it, besides running a step up transformer. Save your money..

Get rid of it. That's gonna be your best bet.

IMHO of course

 

I can't help as you guys have different power voltages then down here in NZ however, PICS PLEASE!!!

 

I was asking a similar question to a buddy of mine who is an electrical engineer.

There was a Lincoln Precision TIG 275 for sale real cheap, a floor display model.

But it was 460/575 voltage (single phase)

Was told that I would need a new/larger transformer from the main power supply.


So it ended up not really being feasible in the long run.

 

If your in Canada, 600 volts to 240 volt transformers are around, but since 600V is common in Canada but not very common in the US, it could be a issue (since location is not disclosed). One thing not mentioned is the machine single or 3 phase? But IMHO, one is better off selling the machine & finding one that runs on 240V single phase.

 

You haven't told us what current your machine requires. The lowest cost method of providing 480 or 575 volt power is to use an autotransformer setup. This can be done with a dedicated autotransformer with a tapped, single winding or a conventional two-winding transformer connected as an autotransformer. The advantage is that your transformer only supplies the boost required, not the total power. This means that an autotransformer configuration supplying 480 volts from a 240 volt source need only have half the power rating of a conventional 240 to 480 volt, isolated secondary transformer. You don't need isolation. An autotransformer configuration supplying 575 volts requires only a 335 volt secondary (575V - 240V), thus requires only about 60% of the power rating of a conventional, two-winding 240 to 575 volt transformer.

Since cost (and weight) of a transformer increases dramatically with increasing power rating, you save a lot using an autotransformer configuration.

I know nothing about code issues with autotransformer setups.

 

Where did the original poster go? I would like to see this beast of a Lincoln.

 

Some of these machines can easily be rewired/jumped to run on 230, if there are provisions for it. It'd be nice if you could tell us the model name of the machine, and more specifically, the model code.

 

If it's a nameplate 460/575 machine there's no reconfiguration for it. Most major welding machine manufacturers sell machines that are high voltage only, even if they are single phase. Machines such as this will normally be found in heavy industry, where 460 or 575 is standard to all their power supply drops on the shop floor. These will generally be wired three phase, and single phase machines will be fitted with a matching three phase plug, but only use three instead of four wires. Miller manufactured machines such as the Thunderbolt and Econotig (both small, light duty machines) in high voltage only versions. Seen guys think they got a great deal at auction until realizing it was high voltage only machine.

Again, there's no magic bullet for a high voltage only machine. Dump it, and find something with an input power requirement that will work with your line power.

IMHO of course

 

Just a FYI anything 600 volts and less is considered low voltage, although any line voltage demands respect.

 

As far as welding machines go, anything over 230 is generally considered (in colloquial terms anyways) as "high voltage" since the vast majority of them are manufactured for operation on 230 volts. Whenever a technician or operator working on welding machines refers to "high voltage" (at least here in the USA) they are generally referring to a machine operating on a higher input voltage than 230 volts, which is usually 460-575. Newer inverters can often automatically link for voltages ranging from 200-600 volts. Some are strictly 460, others 460-600.

Been my experience with them anyways.

You guys work with the serious power tho. Whole different ballgame there