A 240v MIG welding machine will come in handy in industrial welding and remote sites where a standard 110v power plug is inaccessible. Also, this kind of welder will be useful for welding thicker sheets of metal.
So which is the best 240v MIG welder? After extensive research and testing, we have narrowed down our picks for the best 240v welder to three. The three listed below offered the best in terms of performance.
The Hobart – 500553 Handler, 210 MVP MIG Welder, is our top-ranking 240v welder. The LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder follows it. However, all the other options on the list are still great welders.
A quick view of our top 240v MIG welders
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | price |
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Duty Cycle: 30% Weight: 79 pounds Input Power: 240v Output Power: 210 A |
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Weight: 85 pounds Duty Cycle: 60% Input Power: 240v Output Power: 175 A |
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Duty Cycle: 60% Weight: 34.8 pounds Input Power: 240v Output Power: 155 A |
best 240v mig welder With Reviews
Let Have a look at what each welder on our list has to offer.
Hobart – 500553 Handler 210 MVP MIG Welder
Key Features
- Seven voltage settings
- 115/230v input voltage
- 30% at 150 amps duty cycle
- 3-meter power cord
- Motor and overload protection
- Cast aluminum drive system
The Hobart-500553 is the most powerful on our list, with an impressive output of 210 amps. However, this is a small welder, which is another reason it tops our list.
Power
The best thing about this welder is its power output. Rated at an impressive 210 amps, it can weld quite a variety of metals. It can weld aluminum, cast iron, mild steel, stainless steel, and cast steel.
In terms of input power, it works with either a 115v or a 230v power plug. Switching between the two is easy and does not require any additional tools.
Easy to use
First-timers will find this welding machine easy to use. Included in the package is a user chart as well as a manual. These two contain useful information on how to get started. You will get information on how to set up the cords and the required connections.
Flexibility
Another thing to expect from this welding machine is flexibility. It can weld 24 gauge to ⅜ inch thick steel in a single pass. Thus you can use it on a wide variety of welding tasks.
Pros
- The drive system is made from cast aluminum.
- It is easy to use and set up even for first-time users
- Can weld multiple types of metals, including cast steel and aluminum
- It is a dual voltage unit that can work with both a 115v and a 230v power plug
- Is a powerful welder capable of welding up to ⅜ inch thick sheets of metal?
Cons
- Weighing 79 pounds, it is a heavy welder.
- It is not ideal for welding thin sheets of metal, and extra care should be taken when doing so
LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder
Key Features
- 60% duty cycle at 60 amps
- 30 to 175 amps power output range
- 220v/240v input voltage
- MIG torch included
- Spool gun included
- 4-prong end connection
A dual voltage welder capable of running on either a 220v or a 240v power plug, the LOTOS MIG175 is not suited for home use. What is done for is industrial welding tasks that require more power.
Power
This welder has an output of 175 amps, which is enough to weld up to ¼ inch stainless steel and mild steel. The welder also can weld aluminum and can handle welding 3/16 inch or thinner sheets of aluminum.
In terms of input power, it can run on either a 220v or a 240v power plug. Thus, there is no provision to run on a standard 110 or 115v power plug. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, depending on your needs.
Versatility
For working in remote sites, this welder can handle gas and flux core MIG welding. In our tests, we found the 0.35 flux core wire worked best. Coupled with the fact that it can weld steel, mild steel, and aluminum, it is a versatile machine.
Accessories
As already mentioned, this welder can weld aluminum. And the best part is that it comes with a spool gun included. Also included is a 0.9 mm 1lb aluminum wire. Thus you do not have to purchase any additional accessories to weld aluminum.
The welder also has other accessories included, such as a ground clamp, gas hose, argon gas regulator, and a MIG torch.
Pros
- No need to purchase a spool gun for aluminum welding as it is included
- The machine can handle both gas and gasless MIG welding.
- It is powerful enough to weld up to ¼ inch thick steel sheets
- Can handle both standard 4 inch and 8-inch wire spools
- It is capable of running on both a 220v or 240 v power plug
Cons
- The gas hose is just 5 feet long, which is a bit too short.
- It cannot be used with a standard 115 v power plug
Weldpro 155 Amp Inverter MIG Welder
Key Features
- 120v/240v input voltage
- 30-155 amps power output
- 60% duty cycle
- .023, .030, and .035 solid and flux core wire
- MIG torch and gun
The Weldpro 155 amp MIG welder is a relatively small machine. This bright yellow welder measures 15 x 13.6 x 6.7 in and weighs 21 pounds. But its size and weight do not tell the whole story when it comes to the Weldpro.
Multi-process welding
The first thing that is evident from its name is that this is both a MIG and stick welder. Also, it can perform both MIG and flux core welding. To top it all off, you can perform TIG welding with a TIG torch that has to be bought separately.
Power
So how much power can you expect from this unit? This welder has a dual input voltage of 120v and 240v. This means you can use it at home or in an industrial setting. In terms of output, it churns out a max power output of 155 amps.
With this kind of power, you can easily weld up to ¼ inch mild steel. The minimum power output stands at 30 amps.
Ready to use
Included in the package are several accessories that will come in handy. You get a MIG gun and torch, an electrode holder, cable, ground clamp, and a gas hose. These ensure you can get started with the welder right out of the box.
Pros
- It is a multi-process welder capable of MIG, stick, and even TIG welding?
- Overall it is a small and lightweight unit that is easy to carry
- The machine is a dual voltage welder capable of using a 120v and a 240v power plug.
- It features adjustable voltage and wire feed speed settings.
- In our analysis, this welder creates less spatter than some other welders.
Cons
- We found it to be a bit too complicated for beginners.
- The leads are a bit too short.
Best 240v welding machine buying guide
So what should you look for when buying a 240v welding machine? There are several things you need to consider when shopping for one, these are;
MIG and flux core capabilities
There are generally two types of MIG welding, gas and flux core or gasless MIG welding. The latter is suited to outdoor welding, while the latter is suited to indoor fabrication works. Some welders offer just one of these.
We recommend avoiding such welders and going for a welder capable of MIG gas and flux core welding.
Output power
240v welders will typically have different power output. A welder’s power output determines the thickness of metal it can weld. For example, to weld a 4.2mm or light gauge metal, you need about 165 amps of power.
On the flip side, to weld thin sheets of metal of about 24 gauge in thickness, you only need 24 amps. If you are welding thicker sheets, go for a welder with a higher max power output. A welder’s minimum outcome will determine whether it can weld thin sheets of metal.
Duty cycle
How long a welder can weld before requiring a cooldown or duty cycle matters a lot. Ideally, you want a welder with a long duty cycle. However, the higher the output power, the lower the duty cycle. In this regard, a 30% duty cycle will be sufficient for most welding applications.
For low power output applications, the duty cycle can be 60%.
Versatility
The best cheap 240v MIG welder will typically have the capability of handling more than one welding process. For example, the Weldpro 155 Amp Inverter MIG/Stick is capable of both MIG and stick welding.
This is important if you plan on doing more than MIG welding. Furthermore, the kind of metals a welder can weld matters. Some welders cannot weld aluminum. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to seek a welder that can weld aluminum.
Conclusion
240v welding machines tend to be more suited to welding thicker sheets of metal than thin ones. Therefore the best 240v MIG welder needs to be able to handle welding thicker sheets of metal. But still, be able to weld thin sheets of metal.
This can be through the welder being a multi-purpose welding unit. For example, a 240v stick welder can also be used for MIG welding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: A 240 v welder will typically use between 40 and 50 amps.
Ans: A 50 amp circuit breaker will be the best fit for the best 240v MIG welder under 500 or any other 240v welder.
Ans: Yes, but the generator needs to be powerful enough. We are talking about 10kw of power from the generator to power a 240v welder.
Ans: A 240v outlet will be larger than a standard 115v outlet. A more definitive way to know is by using a multimeter. The latter can be acquired in most hardware stores. Set the multimeter to read” AC” and insert both probes into the outlet.
Check what the voltage that the multimeter is giving is. For a 240v outlet, it should read 240v.
Ans: Yes, any appliance rated 240v can be plugged into a 220v outlet
Ans: Yes, since the voltage listed is the maximum voltage, so it is safe to plug a 240v appliance into a 250-volt plug.
Ans: A 220v is used for appliances that cannot be used with a 120v standard plug. On the other hand, a 240v plug offers more power and is used for larger appliances that require more power input.