Rating of welding inverters for home by reliability: which are the best

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Build a gate or a small fence, weld a leaking pipe, patch up your favorite “swallow” or take up gardening and build a greenhouse - all this can be done yourself with the help of skillful hands, pieces of metal and a welding machine. Now you don’t need to contact specialists or spend extra money for 5 minutes of work. It will be much cheaper to figure everything out yourself by first purchasing inverter welding.

But how can you choose a device so that you won’t be ashamed to work, and it will last for exactly 2 years? We will tell you about this in this article, and also present the 10 best welding inverters for everyday use at home.

Top welding inverters - how the unit works

Inverters have dramatically replaced competing transformer models in recent years. The first ones are lighter and more reliable, fold up compactly, and learning to “cook” on such equipment is much easier, so they are chosen for domestic conditions.

To become related to a new device, it is important to know the principles of its operation. The name itself already tells you how the machine will work. The process uses the inverter principle: electricity passes through several nodes, along which the result is output in the form of a melting spark.The current conversion stages look like this:

• the usual 220 V (in more powerful models there is also 380 V) is converted from alternating current to direct current by diodes;
• the constant then turns back to variable through the transistors, increasing the frequency (up to 50 and even 100 kHz);
• then the current decreases to 70-90 V, and therefore its strength increases (according to Ohm’s law) to 200 Amperes or more;
• the high-frequency voltage is equalized.

Additional energy conversion allows you to install miniature transistors in the device, which is how it differs from a standard transformer.

What are the advantages of using inverter type welding?

The principle inherent in the operation of the equipment made it possible to highlight the main advantages of the devices included in the rating of inverter welding machines:

• small size and light weight (up to 10 kg);
• easy to manage and configure;
• even with minimal knowledge and skills, a “teapot” can immediately obtain a fairly straight welding line;
• the ability to adjust the current strength to work with various metals, you can insert several types of electrodes;
• economical in energy consumption;
• stable operation without power fluctuations;
• almost all devices have built-in automatic shutdown functions and a short-circuit protection unit;
• many functions allow you to improve the quality and performance of welding several times; however, minimal knowledge about using the device is required.

Top 10 inverter-type welding machines - which one to choose

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Before moving on to the rating of welding inverters, let’s talk about what criteria should be based on when choosing a particular model:

1. Almost all devices are equipped with built-in protection against current surges.The average security level is 20-25%. Large industrial appliances have this indicator; for household appliances, a ratio of up to 15% will be sufficient.
2. Ventilation system. It is very bad when there is a lot of dust in the work area - the inverter sucks up all the surrounding dirt. You simply cannot do without a cooling fan. There are 2 options: either you have a lot of money to afford professional welding of an industrial design, or regularly remove the cover and wipe the tool, otherwise its shelf life will be reduced by half, or even more.
3. Interesting point: if there is a printed circuit board service nearby, then ask if they have circuit boards for the device you have chosen. If so, the eventual repair will be quick and inexpensive. In other cases, the board simply won’t be found or it will be very expensive to print - it’s easier to buy a new one.
4. Temperature operating conditions. With positive indicators, everything is simple: the higher the mark, the faster the welding protection will react. But using it with negative indicators is an unpleasant topic. The device is a combination of transistors and other parts that operate at maximum temperatures at different temperatures. And in the assembly the temperature will generally be different. It is better to refrain from working during frosts, and in addition you can find the tool’s passport on the Internet and look at its temperature conditions.
5. Don't be afraid of the name "household". This does not mean that it is very weak or that its parameters are enough for one or two seams. Everything is completely the opposite: if a manufacturer indicates “professional”, this does not mean that it is that way. Many people sell models for home users under this tag, but the price will increase by 2 or even 3 times. Think before you buy!

Top welding inverters for home

Our rating of inverter-type welding machines includes only those models that users have rated positively on the websites of popular online stores or in review pages. If you have a different opinion, we are happy to welcome your thoughts in the comments!

WESTER IWT200. Our rating of household welding inverters opens with an excellent device for a beginner in this field. The weight of the device is only 5 kg. The peculiarity of this device is that the manufacturer has installed all the “tricks” of professional equipment: protection against overheating, energy saving, a system for simplifying work and automatic cooling. The average price for an inverter starts from 9 thousand rubles.

RESANTA SAI 190PROF. The key “highlight” of this welding is that even at a voltage of 100 Volts it can maintain an even arc. The only negative is that you can install diodes no larger than 5 mm. When welding metal, the device does not splash the arc, which saves energy and tightly seals the layer of stainless steel or copper. You can buy the device from 14 thousand rubles.

MARS MMA 2000. This tool has been added to our rating of inverter welding machines for the home, which will help its user save money. The efficiency is about 85%, and low energy consumption technologies are used that do not reduce power. The case is equipped with antistatic protection for the safety of the master. And the attractive price adds advantages - only 7 thousand rubles.

GerrardMMA-200. One of the most budget-friendly. It will satisfy the needs of any master, because the welding range is from 20 to 200 amperes. This is enough for any home work with metal up to 5 mm. The price varies between 6,500 rubles.

CEDAR MMA-200. Another device that has expanded the rating of inexpensive welding inverters.It is distinguished by its efficiency and comfortable use; efficiency level is about 85%. The welding range is from 20 to 200 A. CEDAR is easily repaired, and spare parts for it are easy to find. The price of the product is about 5400 rubles.

Kaiser NBC-200. The weight of the device is slightly more than its competitors - 6.5 kg. But the power is an order of magnitude higher - 8 kW with the standard 4-5. Plus - the use of an overheating protection system. With skill and a little experience, you can achieve professional seams. The cost of the tool does not exceed 5 thousand rubles.

WMaster MMA-291. Known for its reliability, although quite powerful for home use. The maximum brewing power is 290 amps. Additionally, there is an arc stabilization function. You won’t find a similar device, and even for 13,500.

SP-2500 PROFI NEW. Universal premium model. Power - 7 kW, strength - up to 250 A. The device is simply packed with additional functions: current regulation, arc leveling, quick start, overheating protection. The average price is about 20 thousand rubles.

SHYUAN MMA-630A. This is a tool only for those who really want and can afford it. They can both cook and melt, cut any non-ferrous metal. Works in any environment, delivering a maximum force of about 360 A. Weight is 48 kg, and the price is 57,500 rubles.

Models from Fubag are German-made equipment that allows even inexperienced craftsmen to carry out welding. The main advantage is that the devices can withstand voltage surges from 130 to 265 Volts. The line includes both inexpensive models and industrial designs.