Robert looked into 480 volt service last year but I didn’t know this (was before my time on the board). It’s around $17K give or take to make the upgrades. I’ll get another estimate since I’m half way there but it’ll likely be in the same ballpark.
I think finding a newer welder is going to be the better option but the data is nice to have regardless of what we decide to do.
The transformer units seem to have really poor power factor, and require a lot of magnetizing current flowing in the wires and breakers that never gets utilized as output energy. The inverters do a much better job of being efficient when measured by inlet amps to output amps. And they have a lot of nice features. Which can also be read as having lots of settings for people to leave set wrong for general use.
I just got a call from a specialist at Oncor. They said we have 277/480 volt service available at the transformer but it might not be wired into the building. They said the transformer is rated for 500kVA and about 200kVA is being utilized. Whether it’s needed or not it’s good to know it’s there.
That is actually pretty significant. That leaves about 625 amps for a 480 feeder. It still would be expensive to bring it in though.
If (big IF) it comes into the building on a panel, and if (again) we can either utilize existing wiring in a conduit from the electrical room or cheaply run a new feed, then it might make sense to try to get the 250 wired to 480v power. We could then proceed with selling the overly-powerful 351 and using those proceeds for a smaller inverter model (and maybe have some leftover for a Hypertherm to replace the Miller Spectrum handheld plasma cutter).
Either way, I’d like to see two welding cells with the curtain separating them so you could open it up to one big bay for larger projects. Others may differ with my view. 
Too many choices…
I’d like to see capabilities to expand in order to do bigger and badder projects too…like a utility trailer I’d like to build and then build a tear-drop trailer, etc…
I’d agree that the inverter units seem to be more efficient, but they can also be failure prone and expensive to fix. Unless the transformer in the big units develops a short, I’d be comfortable replacing power rectifiers and logic board components on the 351 or 250, as they are stone simple. Not so sure I’d attempt that on an inverter unit w/o the full schematic, which you’re not likely to get.
Note that you can do this in an automotive bay right now, as the MIG box is on wheels. Remember not to build something that’s too large to get out of the metal shop. 
I agree … I’m thinking out when the metal shop can be 2-3 times the size with a dock door connected directly to the shop facilitating much more member production …storage is the main issue right now. Hopefully, moving to 60k sqft in the future will solve storage issues with more storage space.
There’s some fallacy for ya…
(not that it shouldn’t be pursued anyway, but “storage issues” will not, cannot, and should not, ever be “solved”).
I hate to see these machines Loganed out when they are capable of incredibly impressive things that most inverter boxes can’t even dream of. However, like most people @ the 'Space, i don’t know how to use them to 1/10th their true capability, and the lack of power removes another 30% from what they can do, so maybe selling at least one of them off and getting something more in line with our food supply is a good move… 
This is a lesson I SHOULD have learned as a small child: Clydesdales are capable, impressive, and showy, but a Morgan’ll do everything we need it to, and we can afford their oats.
Ok. The 250 TIG machine has the new pump on it. However we need to put a plug on it. Not a big deal.
This is what the heat exchanger looked like.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!
(wasn’t even a struggle for the 20 chars)
EDIT: also, not to harp on it, but the manual DOES show lube points on the motor. You’ve been there, and seen that, while I have not. Are we sure ours doesn’t need this?
Don’t remember seeing any oil drop holes.
I dumped out the science experiment which was growing in the tank and loaded it with another gallon and a half of distilled (DI) water. Unfortunately, I could not get the pump to prime or pump more than a trickle. I checked/cleaned the filter and that’s OK, so it might be an air leak on the suction side or a blockage on the output side.
I’ve marked it INOP for the time being, and it is currently located next to the metal scrap bin.
It’s likely the solenoid then. We can run the pump manually by opening the output of the supply. Hell the solenoid may be rusted/gummed stuck.
wanted to bump this necro and see where we are on this. Can’t recall. I think Zach worked on it last.
I brought some stuff up last week but ran out of time to look at it.
