BATTERY-POWERED MIG WELDER FOR OFF-THE-GRID WELDING
Leave the generator and extension cords behind. The Trek 180 from Hobart Welding Products (Appleton, WI) is a portable MIG welding system that operates off its self-contained battery or 115V power, welds 24 ga up to ¼ in mild steel in a single pass, and recharges off an automotive power inverter or 115V receptacle.
Posted: February 15, 2010
In today?s world, everything is becoming more portable. Welding equipment included. The Trek 180 from Hobart Welding Products (Appleton, WI) is a portable MIG welding system that is ideal for MRO professionals. This revolutionary wire welder operates off its self-contained battery or 115V power, welds 24 ga up to ¼ in mild steel in a single pass, and recharges off an automotive power inverter or 115V receptacle.
Ideal for maintenance and repairs in hard to access locations, the Trek 180 is a leap forward in welding technology, portability and most of all convenience. The ultra-portable 52 lb package operates while plugged in or completely cordless. Powerful output 180 amps on 115V power (an output previously limited to 230V welders); 120 amps on 17V DC battery power at 20 percent duty cycle. The unit recharges from inside a vehicle using an automotive power inverter and provides exceptional arc quality with self-shielded flux-cored or solid-gas wires.
The Trek 180 is designed to meet the demands of MRO professionals who require great arc performance in an extremely portable package. Two internal, high performance batteries enable the Trek to achieve a 100 percent charge in 90 minutes or a 20 minute, 80 percent quick charge from a standard 115V wall outlet or within a vehicle using an automotive power inverter.
The Trek 180 is designed to operate while plugged in or completely cordless. Its detachable power cord plugs into standard 115V receptacles. Convenient for traveling professionals, the Trek 180 can be charged inside a vehicle with an automotive power inverter (400 continuous watt minimum.)
?The power is remarkable for the compact size and mobility,? states Scott Heider of Crystal Print (Little Chute, WI). ?I simply throw the Trek in the back of the truck or on one of our carts and transport it all over our facility. It?s light enough that I can carry it anywhere by hand.?
While charging the patented AutoPower® technology automatically scans the available input charging power as not to over stress low-capacity devices such as automotive inverters. Two internal, high-performance, sealed lead-acid batteries provide the energy storage needed for welding in remote applications. The batteries feature Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology, which allows the Trek to achieve a 20-minute, 80-percent quick charge or full charge in approximately 90 minutes.
When fully charged, the unit delivers approximately 100 in of continuous weld bead using .030 dia flux-cored wire on 1/8 in mild steel. Unlike other battery welders, battery power is monitored continuously to provide consistent welding voltage regardless of the charge level. The Trek?s low battery shutdown feature disables the welder when the battery runs low, protecting the life of the battery and quality of weld output.
?Without running a single extension cord, I?m able to take the Trek up on the roof to repair 1/8 in sheet metal on our air conditioning units or out to our presses to repair cracked sheet metal and brackets on equipment too large to move back to the shop,? adds Heider. ?It has paid for itself in the time savings alone of not having to disassemble large components for repair.?
On battery power alone, the Trek 180 offers a rated output of 120 amps, 17 VDC at 20 percent duty cycle. When plugged into standard 115V power, the unit is capable of delivering 180 amps, (an output previously limited to 230V welders!) The Trek?s low 12-amp power draw allows the unit excellent performance when using cheap or low-quality extension cords commonly found on construction and jobsites.
A removable storage bag is a handy compartment for securing all the Trek?s cables, MIG gun, work clamp and removable power cord with additional room for extra wire, contact tips and welding gloves. The bag can be detached, allowing the unit to slide under a seat of a truck, or strapped down.
SUPERIOR ARC PERFORMANCE
Inverter-based technology enables the Trek 180 to control arc characteristics thousands of times faster than conventional transformer technology. As a result, the unit provides welding characteristics¡ªpositive arc starts without popping and minimal spatter while welding that are far superior to any other small MIG welder. This includes highly stable, low-spatter welding with self-shielded flux-core wire and outstanding results when using mixed gas.
?Welding with flux-cored or solid wire, the quality of the welds is second to none,? states Heider. ?My day-to-day repairs require a long-term fix and the Trek delivers a high-quality, production weld. I would highly recommend this welder to anyone working in a maintenance facility.?
The Trek 180 features a durable built-in wire feeder with a quick-release tension lever. Accepting 4 in spools of .023-.035 wire, its cast aluminum dual-groove drive rolls can be configured for a smooth or knurled feeding performance. Its infinite voltage and wire feed control provides a broader operating window for each wire, allowing operators to quickly and easily fine-tune the welding arc for their desired output on different materials and thicknesses.
The Trek 180 also ushers in a new form of operator/machine communication. LED diagnostic lights on the front of the unit provide quick information on temperature, charging and battery status. The real advantage to operators is the ability to quickly identify if the unit momentarily shut down due to duty-cycle, or low battery; saving unnecessary trips to service centers.
TOUGH, DURABLE, RELIABLE
Leading the way for a new category of durable welding equipment, the Trek 180 was tested to meet the most extreme conditions the unit was designed to encounter. Because welding machines often ride in the back of trucks and get used on tough job sites, they are often subjected to incidental abuse, impact from tools and materials (lumber, steel beams, bricks, etc.) and covered with dust, dirt and water. To survive this environment, the Trek 180's case is made from impact-resistant plastic that provides superior strength and durability compared to metal cases.
Every internal component was engineered with durability in mind from the built-in wire feeder to the constant-voltage DC power source and inverter circuitry. Pre-production, engineers comprehensively tested the trek for reliability in extreme environments and situations. Additionally, each Trek 180 is tested before it leaves the production floor.
No other welding manufacturer offers a better warranty than this. The Trek 180 is backed by a 5/3/1 warranty that covers power source electronics for three years and the MIG gun for one year on parts and labor.
Hobart offers the Trek 180 with an MSRP of $1,400 through farm/ranch and hardware/tool retailers in the U.S. and Canada. Prices and availability may vary by retailer.
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