What Is The Best Generator For Welding Machines?

To ensure smooth operations when there is no power at the welding site, a generator is needed. Whenever we have to weld at remote locations that are off the grid, we have to run the machine using the generator.

The question arises as to which kind and size of generator is appropriate for the welding machine that we use. On the basis of our extensive research and analysis, we found three categories of welding generators. In each category, we provide a list of the top welding generators. 

The frequently asked question is how many watt generator to run welder? Our answer to this question can be found at the end of our article.

List Of Best Generators For Welding Machines — Editor’s Top Choices

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Welder Current Level 210-250A

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The welding machine with a current of 210-250A requires a generator with a minimum output of 13000 watts, but we recommend a 15000 watt generator for safety margin. 

In the field of making quality electrical equipment, champion is a well-known brand. Their generators are reliable and get applause from users on different websites.

Champion’s 100111 is the best generator for welding having a current range of 210-250A of welder machines.

It features an electric start method backed by a battery, and a powerful 717cc V-Twin champion engine handles heavy loads with ease.

The generator is powered by gasoline. Its starting power is 15000 watts and its running power is 12000 watts, allowing it to easily handle welding machines operating at output current ranges between 210 and 250 amps.

Transport and storage are effortless thanks to the foldable handle and the never flat tires kit. It weighs 329.6 pounds. The generator is made entirely of steel, making it very durable.

With the 10.9 gallon gasoline tank, it can run upto nine hours at half load, so you can operate the machine at least for a day at a job site once the fuel tank has been refilled.

The device has four 120V/20A GFCI outlets, one 120V/30A twist lock outlet, a 120/240V 30A twist lock outlet, and one 120/240V 50A RV outlet. All outlets are covered for safety.

From 23 feet, it produces 78 dba of sound.

It has an intelligent display that shows session runtime, total runtime, voltage, frequency, and output of the unit.

A low oil shut off protects the generator by automatically shutting it down.

Additionally, it is protected from surge voltages by a voltage guard. A voltage regulator automatically regulates the voltage.

The generator is compliant with CARB, certified by the EPA, and listed with ETL. 

Pulsar is a California-based brand that has produced quality generators for many years.

A Pulsar PG15KVTWB 15,000W generator with an output range of 210-250A is ranked second as the best generator for welding.

With dual fuel, you can either use gasoline or propane gas as fuel, which gives you a lot of flexibility.

You can start it conveniently with the electric push start button. A manual recoil start method is also included if the battery dies.

A 16000 watts starting power and 12000 running power is provided by gasoline, while a 13500 peak power and 11000 running power is provided by propane.

The 713 V-Twin, 4 stroke, OHV engine can easily handle the welding machine which has an output current range of 210-250A.

When running at half load, it can run for up to ten hours on a 10.6 gallon fuel tank. A fuel gauge is also included, which is helpful when refueling.

The noise level of the generator is 77 dba.

It weighs 386 pounds, and its steel frame makes it very durable.

Storage and maneuvering are made easy with the never-flat wheels and drop-down handles.

There are four AC 120V/20A GFCI outlets, one AC 120V/30A twist lock outlet, one 120V/240V 30A twist lock outlet, and one 120V/240V 50A RV outlet. 

Using the VFT display, you can see the voltage, frequency, and runtime of the unit.

Low oil shut down shuts down the unit on low oil level, and it also has overload protection.

In addition to being CARB-compliant, the generator is also EPA-approved.

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Welder Current Level 180-210A

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The welding machine with a current of 180-210A requires a generator with a minimum output of 8000 watts, but we recommend a 10000+ watt generator for safety margin. 

Westinghouse generators are very durable and reliable. Customers can choose them with confidence.

A Westinghouse WGen9500 is the best generator for welding machines that generate current in the 180-210A range.

It has a starting power of 12500 watts and a running power of 9500 watts.

The welder machine can easily be driven by the heavy-duty 457 four-stroke OHV westinghouse engine.

It can run for up to 12 hours on 6.6 gallon gasoline. Additionally, it has a fuel gauge that is helpful when refueling.

Having a steel frame and weighing 208 pounds, it is very compact and durable.

With the foam grip foldable handles and never flat tires, storage and transportation are easy.

This unit operates at a sound level of 74 dB.

There are three starting methods: wireless remote, electric push start button, and manual recoil start.

There are four 120V/20A GFCI common household outlets, one 120/240V 30A twist lock outlet, one 120/240V 50A RV outlet, two 5V DC ports, and all outlets are covered.

A VFT display shows the generator’s output voltage, frequency, and runtime.

There is an oil low shut down, automatic voltage regulation, and overload protection built in for safety.

It is CARB-compliant and EPA-approved.

DuroStar comes from the DuroMax brand and is a quality generator. It is highly rated unit on the amazon.

The DuroStart DS13000EH ranks second as the best generator for welding machines with current ranges between 180A and 210A.

Due to its dual fuel capability, you can choose either gasoline or propane as your fuel type.

On gasoline, it produces 13000 starting watts and 10500 running watts, while on propane, it delivers 12350 peak watts and 9975 starting watts.

When attached to a 20-pound propane tank, it can run for up to 6.5 hours at half load, whereas with an 8.3-gallon gasoline tank, it can run for up to 8.5 hours at half load.

There are two methods of starting the generator: one is an electric start, and the other is a manual recoil start.

A heavy duty 500cc engine can easily power the welding machine with a current range of 180-210A.

The metal frame makes it very durable and compact. It weighs 236 pounds. It has a foldable handle and never flat tires, so transportation and storage are easy.

Approximately equal to the noise produced by a vacuum cleaner, the operating noise of the generator is 74 dB.

There are two 120V/20A household outlets, a 120V/30A locking outlet, a 120/240V 30A twist lock outlet, a 120/240V 50A RV outlet, and a 12V DC outlet for charging batteries. 

Using the button, you can switch between the voltage, hertz, and runtime displayed on the LCD screen.

Idle mode of the generator offers better fuel efficiency and lesser noise by varying the engine speed to match the load.

You can use the fuel switch to switch between gasoline, propane, or carburetor fuel.

For the safety of the unit and connected appliances, it has low oil shut off and overload protection.

The generator is CARB compliant, and EPA approved.

DuroMax XP12000EH is ranked at third place as the best generator for welding machines with current ranges of 180-210A. 

It is capable of being powered both by gasoline and propane because of its dual fuel capability.

With gas, it generates 12000 starting watts and 9500 running watts, while with propane, it produces 11400 peak watts and 9025 rated watts.

Two starting methods are available: electric key start and manual recoil start.

It weighs 224 pounds and is made up of steel throughout which makes it very durable.

The foldable handles and never flat wheel kit allow you to carry it anywhere.

Its 457cc OHV engine is powerful enough to control the welder machine that has an output range of 180-210A.

On an 8.3 gallon gasoline tank, it can run for up to 8 hours, while on a 40lb propane tank, it can run for up to 7 hours.

Generators operate at 72 dBa, which is about the same as vacuum cleaners.

The idle mode of a generator adjusts the speed of its engine according to the need, resulting in better fuel efficiency and less noise.

There are two 120/20A GFCI house outlets, a 120V/30A locking outlet, a 120/240V 30A locking outlet, and a 120/240V 50A RV outlet.

Furthermore, it has a 12V DC outlet for charging batteries and a voltage meter that shows the output voltage.

Low oil shut off technology turns the unit off if the oil level drops.

The unit complies with CARB and EPA standards.

Pulsar’s G12KBN is a powerful generator that is ranked at fourth position as best generator for welding machines whose current range is between 180 and 210A.

Due to the dual fuel capability of the generator, it can be powered by either propane or gasoline.

On gasoline, it produces 12000 peak watts and 9500 rated watts, while on propane, it produces 10800 peak watts and 8550 running watts. 

There are two methods to start the generator, one is an electric start, and the other is a recoil start.

The powerful 457cc OHV engine can easily handle the load of a welding machine whose current range is 180-210A.

On an 8 gallon gasoline tank, it can run for up to 12 hours, while on a 20 lb propane tank, it can run for up to 5 hours at half load.

A transfer switch allows users to easily switch from one fuel type to another.

With its 209 pounds weight, a foldable handle, and never flat wheels kit, it makes transportation and storage a breeze. 

The unit has four 120V/20A household outlets, one 120/240V 30A locking outlet, one 120/240V 50 RV outlet, and one 12V DC outlet for charging batteries.

A VFT display shows voltage, frequency, and runtime on the generator.

Safety features include low oil shut off and automatic voltage regulation, which protect the unit and connected external devices.

A low oil indicator is also included on the panel, which is a useful addition.

It is CARB-compliant and EPA-approved.

In addition to generators, WEN is one of the leading brands. It produces many quality models that are well received.

The WEN DF1100T 11,000-Watt generator takes fifth place as the best generator for welding machines.

Dual fuel means you can choose between gasoline or propane as fuel type.

It produces 11000 starting watts and 8300 running watts on gasoline, and 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts on propane.

The machine has two starting methods: electric key start and manual recoil start.

With a 6.6-gallon gasoline tank, it can run up to 8.5 hours at half load.

The 457 cc air-cooled OHV engine easily handles the load of a welder machine.

The operating noise is 74 decibels, which is comparable to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

It weighs 214 pounds, and its steel frame makes it extremely durable.

Due to its foldable handles and never a flat wheel kit, it can be carried anywhere and stored.

There are four 120V/20A common household outlets, a 120V/30A twist lock outlet, a 120/240V 50A RV outlet, and a 12V cigarette style dc outlet.

There is a transfer switch on the panel that makes switching from propane to gas easy.

It has an hour meter that helps to keep track of the generator’s maintenance interval.

As a safety measure, it has a voltage regulator, overload protection, and low oil shut-off, which shuts off the generator if the oil level is low.

The unit is CARB compliant, and EPA approved.

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Welder Current Level Up to 180A

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The welding machine with a current level upto 180A requires a generator with a minimum output of 7000 watts, but we recommend a 8000 watt generator for safety margin.

Champion 100813 is a powerful generator ranked as the best generator for welding machines whose current level is up to 180A.

There are two ways to start the generator, electric push start and recoil start. The cold weather technology of the generator makes it easy to start in cold weather. 

On gasoline, it delivers 9375 peak watts and 7500 rated watts.

Its operation noise is 74 dB, approximately the same as a dishwasher. 

A heavy duty 420cc engine can easily handle the load of a welding machine with a current range of up to 180A.

At half load, it can run for up to 8 hours on a 5.7 gallon gasoline tank.

It weighs 199 pounds and has a steel frame. Transport is easy with the foldable handle and wheels.

There are four 120V/20A household outlets, one 120/240V 30A locking outlet, and one 120/240V 50A RV outlet.

Generators have 3-mode meters that show voltage, frequency, and runtime. 

Low oil shut off technology shuts the generator down automatically when the oil level falls low. Voltage guards prevent overloading and protect your generator and equipment.

By reducing the engine speed depending on the plugged-in appliances, the idle mode provides better fuel efficiency and less noise. 

The generator is EPA-certified and CARB-compliant.

Inverter generators such as the Champion Power Equipment 100520 are ranked second as the best generator for welding machines. This is also good for IGBT and MOSFET welders that are prone to distorted current.

With gasoline, it generates 8750 starting watts and 7000 running watts.

There are two ways for it to start: one is with an electric start button, while the other is with a manual recoil. In cold weather, cold start technology provides a quick start.

The heavy duty 420cc engine can easily handle the welder whose current output is up to 180A.

The foldable handles make it easy to carry and store anywhere, and it’s never flat tires make it easy to move. It weighs 155.4 pounds.

It can run for 10 hours at 25% load on a 4.2 gallon gasoline tank.

It operates at 72 dba and reduces its level depending on the load.

All outlets are covered, and there are four 120V/20A common house outlets, one 120/240V 30A locking outlet, and one 12V DC outlet.

In economy mode, the generator automatically adjusts its speed based on the attached devices resulting in less noise and better fuel efficiency.

The unit has a 4-mode meter that shows runtime, total runtime, voltage, and frequency.

Less than 3% THD makes it ideal for IGBT and MOSFET welders.

Indicators indicate output, overload, and low oil levels.

Low oil shut down automatically shuts down the unit to protect it from damage.

This generator meets CARB standards and is EPA-approved.

Firman 8000/10000 ranked third best generator for welding machines whose current level reaches 180A.

It has three starting methods: a wireless key start, an electric start, and a manual recoil start. 

On gasoline, it can produce 10000 starting watts and 8000 running watts.

Firman’s heavy duty 439cc 4 stroke engine can easily handle the load of a current-level welder machine up to 180A.

At half load, the unit produces 74 dba of operating noise.

It can run for 12 hours at 50% load on an 8 gallon gasoline tank.

Steel is used to frame this device and it weighs 221 pounds, which makes it very compact.

Due to its foldable handle and never flat wheel kit, it can be carried to remote job sites.

There are two 120V/20A GFCI outlets, one 120V/30A locking outlet, one 120/240V 30A twist lock outlet, one 120V/30A RV outlet, and one 120/240V 50A RV outlet.

An oil level warning and voltage, frequency, and runtime readings are displayed on the 4-mode meter.

There is a low oil shut off that shuts off the generator when it detects low oil levels.

The product is CARB-compliant and EPA-approved.

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Conclusion:

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There are three categories where you can select the best generator for your welding machine. 

In our opinion, Champion 100111 is the best generator to use with welders with current range of 210-250A. 

When the welding machine output current lies between 180 and 210A, the Westinghouse WGen9500 is the best generator. 

Champion 100813 is the best generator if the output current is up to 180A.

Champion 100520 is the best generator if you have IGBT and MOSFET welders.

How to choose the right kind and size of generator for a welding machine?

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Welding machines also come in a variety of sizes and types. Generators are rated in watts, while welding machines are rated in amperes. 

Here is a question: How many watt generator to run welder?

In order to answer this question, we need to do some mathematical work. Check the input voltage and current on the label that is mostly printed on the back of the welding machine.

The X welding machine has 110V input voltage and 15% safety margin, and the highest input current for 110V is 46.3A, so we can calculate the wattage of the generator using a simple equation.

V x A = W

Voltage = 110+15%=126.5 

126.5×43.6 = 5856 watts 

By adding 30% more wattage to 5856 as starting wattage, we get 8000 watts.

Therefore, if you want to run X machine at 110 volts, you need a generator that has a starting power of 8000 watts and a running power of 6000 watts.

In the case of the Y machine, the input voltage is 220V and after adding 15% safety voltage, we get 253V. The input current is 32.9A for 220V,

Voltage = 220+15%=253 

253 x 32.9 = 8323 watts

By adding 30% to 8323 watts, we get 11000 watts as starting watts. 

If we want to run the machine at 220V, we will need a generator whose starting wattage is 11000 and whose running wattage is 8500.

On the job site, we sometimes have other appliances. Therefore, keep this in mind before calculating the wattage of the generator and add additional wattage in the calculation if you plan to run other equipment alongside the welding machine.