Solar Panel Tig welding.

[Tritium]

Here are a 2 razor blades I tig welded together.



Ok your asking yourself why am I crowing about a bad looking tig weld on 2 razor blades.

This weld was done with a 26 series torch, medium gas lens, #8 cup, .040 2% lanthinated tungsten, 7 scfh argon flow, scratch start, 1/2" thick copper backer bar.

The kicker here is the power source was 2 spare 100 watt solar panels wired in a series.

Approx 25VDC at 5.25A Torch wired straight polarity.

I have wanted to try welding with solar panels ever since I put in my array and drew a nice arc one day while wiring them.

I think the test was very successful given I have less than 36" total tig welding experience to date.

I did some destructive testing of the welded blades and the weld held while the blade broke so I am encouraged to do further testing.

Now to practice.

Thurmond

[Gadget]

You must have quite an array of solar panels Thurmond. Nice job on the welds too.

[SICFabrications]

nice! not aesthetically, but nice, using solar panels to tig with.... bam!

[Gadget]

nice! not aesthetically, but nice, using solar panels to tig with.... bam!

The Emeril of welding said it so it is so. BAM

[Tritium]

You must have quite an array of solar panels Thurmond. Nice job on the welds too.

Ken I have 2 arrays. One is 780 watts at 56VDC, the other 600 watts at 110VDC. They are tied to MPPT controllers and wired to a battery bank that runs an inverter. My computer, most of my electronics and lighting is run from these.

Thurmond

---------- Post added at 09:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 PM ----------

nice! not aesthetically, but nice, using solar panels to tig with.... bam!

Thanks Stan, Any praise from a welder of your level is tops! It is an UGLY weld.

I will get better (when the temperature of my shop is less than 130 degrees that is)

Thurmond

[Gadget]

I will get better (when the temperature of my shop is less than 130 degrees that is)

Thurmond

Ah, that's the trick. Plenty of preheat

[arandall]

That's really neat Thurmond.

[KHK]

Considering what you were using... Great job!!

[NHRATRANSAM64]

Thats some interesting stuff. Where did you get your solar panels from?

[Tritium]

sunelec.com