Old Midstates 300 amp AC welder...transformer like attatchment?

[Alphonse]

ld Midstates 300 amp. AC Welder...Whats on the back?Any of you old-time farm / industrial welders out there know what this Lil' transformer like thingy [very heavy weighs about 100# by itself] on the back of this welder is? It looks like a small transformer hooked into the the primary 240 volt single phase input line. Is this to reduce current input amps? I thought they used capacitators for that? Any help apreciated. I have enough current capacity in my shop for the welders rated 60 amps max, but if this thingy cuts it down, might as well leave it on know?
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/attach...1&d=1250773534

[Brian Howard]

Could be a transformer to allow the welder to run on different input voltages. See if there are any labels on the transformer or welder specifying input voltage. It won't reduce the amount of power required to weld.

[Alphonse]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

ld Midstates 300 amp. AC Welder...Whats on the back?Any of you old-time farm / industrial welders out there know what this Lil' transformer like thingy [very heavy weighs about 100# by itself] on the back of this welder is? It looks like a small transformer hooked into the the primary 240 volt single phase input line. Is this to reduce current input amps? I thought they used capacitators for that? Any help apreciated. I have enough current capacity in my shop for the welders rated 60 amps max, but if this thingy cuts it down, might as well leave it on know?

Well, I took the transformer thing off the welder...It has no tags or spec. on it...and I don't have any history on it, i don'tlike surprises. Also don't like a bare electrical devise riding heard on the back of my welder LOL. I took it completely off and wired the welder up in the correct way. It works fine, and weighs about 100# less. This welder is about the best AC welder I have ever used.

Here's some pics of it.

[armandh]

it appears to be a buck/boost transformer

the lighter primary and the heavy low voltage winding that is used to subtract/add a few volts when wired series out/in phase with the line.

[armandh]

or if there are two extra leads with lugs for a large [missing] cap it could be a ferroresonant voltage regulation device [sorrenson]

there appears to be some unconnected wires in the second photo

[Alphonse]

Thanks ARMANDH; DO you think there is any after market value to anyone who may be looking for this type of item, and a shame to scrap it, or is it too old time for any modern needs, what do you think?

[armandh]

probably of little value until needed

here murphy's law applies

time an item was saved is inversely proportional to the time B4 needing it