Weldernator?

[Surrey]

Has anyone made a weldernator?

It seems like a sweet-ass mod, but had some questions I hoped I could get answered...

First off, how big of an alternator do I want? I've read about people doing from 80 up to 140 amp alternators... Lets say 1/4" is the thickest I want to weld, but I want to do it without major hassle if possible.

Second, what is a good ground? obviously I dont want to fry anything on my truck...

Third, would using/modifying/customizing (not exactly sure what would be needed) the mount for my A/C compressor be a good location/mount for it? Right now the belt is gone for the compressor, and I was planning on removing it all together eventually.

Thanks.

 

[The Jester Race]

http://www.parksoffroad.com/miscinstalls/welderreview/mobi/mobimain.htm

http://www.zena.net/

I will run setup eventually. My buddy has a similar setup in his full size bronco and it works really well.

I have done this before too.

-Jester

 

[Surrey]

http://www.parksoffroad.com/miscinstalls/welderreview/mobi/mobimain.htm

http://www.zena.net/

I will run setup eventually. My buddy has a similar setup in his full size bronco and it works really well.

I have done this before too.

-Jester

Thats close Jester, but those are brand-name onboard welders... I mean a true Weldernator, something home-made and cheaper... Like this.
http://mhickok.blogspot.com/2008/06/weldernator-true-power.html

Has anyone done THAT? Not just an onboard welder that you buy?

 

[gwaii]

that's one of those simple things that i've been meaning to do for a long time,but never got around to.think i'll try it out when the ranger gets going again.

 

[The Jester Race]

Thats close Jester, but those are brand-name onboard welders... I mean a true Weldernator, something home-made and cheaper... Like this.
http://mhickok.blogspot.com/2008/06/weldernator-true-power.html

Has anyone done THAT? Not just an onboard welder that you buy?

The links I posted are true weldernators. And weldernators are on-board welders. And if you'd look at the first link I posted it answers all of your questions.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631100&highlight=welder+OBW
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/on-boardwelder/

Google is your friend, you should start using it.

-Jester

 

[Surrey]

The links I posted are true weldernators. And weldernators are on-board welders. And if you'd look at the first link I posted it answers all of your questions.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631100&highlight=welder+OBW
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/on-boardwelder/

Google is your friend, you should start using it.

-Jester

I have. Thats why my questions are specific. People arn't specific on what their weldernators are capable of, and as I said, I've seen people using 80 amp right up to 140amp alts to make one... So I asked what is suitable for welding 1/4" steel?

Also wondering what is a suitable place to ground on my truck? Really dont have any interest in frying everything.

As far as location goes, I was hoping someone would chime in saying they have used the A/C compressor mount and it was successful or not... Seems like a fine spot for it, but I wanted a second opinion.

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

I too have been looking at this for a while, I am going to go with a full frame 100 amp ford. The only differnce i see in people's execution of the idea is either running a full 12 volts to the field, or putting a rheostat on the field to regulate how much voltage the alt puts out. That said, I am thinking of running a rheostat. I am making a bracket to duck the thing where the ac compressor would go.

 

[Surrey]

I too have been looking at this for a while, I am going to go with a full frame 100 amp ford. The only differnce i see in people's execution of the idea is either running a full 12 volts to the field, or putting a rheostat on the field to regulate how much voltage the alt puts out. That said, I am thinking of running a rheostat. I am making a bracket to duck the thing where the ac compressor would go.

Awesome. Is this a project you are doing soon? Would love to know how it turns out.

What is the advantage to having a rheostat?

 

[compaqeo]

would you take the belt off the modified alt. when not using or could you just leave it connected?

 

[DL BOGART]

weldernator

I would leave the belt on, when the field isn't energized the drag from a freewheeling alt is almost non-existent. The last thing you want to have to do when something is broke is fix something else first I.E. put the belt on first then weld what ya broke.

 

[Surrey]

From what I've seen, some people dont even have the alternator mounted until they need it, although that may be due to reasons like hood clearance...

When I do one, Im going to leave the belt off until its needed.

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

I will also leave the belt off. When I make the bracket for the upper alt. mount I will make it really easy to work with involving adjustment, so that I can take its belt off easily and in a minute or so. At least if I wont be using it for a while. It would be negligible, the load of the alt not energized, about the same as the AC compressor while off. My only concern is if there is a slight misalignment with the v belt, it wouldnt really show during usage of the weldernator, but it would wear belts a lot more if they were driving the alt all day during daily driving.

 

[country0001]

There was an article in fourwheeler,or 4wor about this in the past couple months.They claimed 2 batteries in tandem like the above setup will weld up to1/4 inch.Checkout their website.

 

[country0001]

They also recommended using Optima batteries, cause they are less likely to blow up

 

[bobbywalter]

batteries i used for tacking stuff for many many years, still use them remotely.


i use gm/older jeep type rheos for voltage control combined with throttle.


but i like the little lincoln mig i have much better the kids got me some years back.


i have not reinstalled my oba or weldornator...been a few years and they are missed.

worthy mod.