US Army welding truck now 100% mission ready!!!
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2016 3:14 pm
Back in 2012, I liberated a surplus M1031 truck from Ft. McCoy WI. Why? Only 9000 miles for one but less than 4 hours on the PTO driven 12 kW Lima MAC three phase generator and 7 CFM Champion air compressor. There is always a catch..
The generator needs to spin at 1800 RPM to make 60 Hz and to do that, a Barber Coleman governor system adjusts the throttle. That didn't work too well. As in it couldn't hold but 55 Hz with only the compressor. My Miller Dynasty 200 DX was limited to 100 amps in GTAW, forget SMAW
I finally got around to it, discovering the problem was original install was flubbed. 20 minutes later, it was powering three 3500 watt water heater elements AND the air compressor while holding 60.25 Hz
Its a beefy generator, data plate reads 41.6 amps three phase at 208 volts. Which means it could power a 400 amp welder.
Now I am ready to do some real field work. Yes, it burns about 1-1/2 gallons per hour at full output but it is only one engine to maintain.
The generator needs to spin at 1800 RPM to make 60 Hz and to do that, a Barber Coleman governor system adjusts the throttle. That didn't work too well. As in it couldn't hold but 55 Hz with only the compressor. My Miller Dynasty 200 DX was limited to 100 amps in GTAW, forget SMAW
I finally got around to it, discovering the problem was original install was flubbed. 20 minutes later, it was powering three 3500 watt water heater elements AND the air compressor while holding 60.25 Hz
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
Its a beefy generator, data plate reads 41.6 amps three phase at 208 volts. Which means it could power a 400 amp welder.
Now I am ready to do some real field work. Yes, it burns about 1-1/2 gallons per hour at full output but it is only one engine to maintain.