How to choose the right welding inverter

Which welding inverter to choose

Welding inverters are increasingly becoming widespread among a wide range of users, displacing old-style devices. This is due to the large number of advantages of this type of welding devices. It works on the principle of phase shift voltage.

Types of welding inverters

There are four main types of inverters:

The MMA marking indicates that this machine is intended for manual welding using coated electrodes . Mainly used by amateurs at home. Using this type of inverter, small and simple work is performed.

The MIG/MAG marking denotes semi-automatic welding devices . They are more powerful and functional, unlike the previous type. Well suited for small productions.

Welding inverters marked TIG are based on the principle of operating in a protective gas environment . They are more complex in their design than the previous ones. Intended for use in production. At home, having such a device is unprofitable because of its high cost, and the need to purchase additional equipment; you also need to buy special consumables.

Devices marked CUT are capable of cutting metal using air plasma . Designed for cutting metal up to 15 mm thick.

Device weight

This characteristic directly depends on the model and manufacturer. Usually it is in the range of 5-10 kilograms. Often, the more powerful and functional the device, the more it weighs.

Nutrition

One of the important characteristics is the power supply of the welding inverter . Some inverters can only be powered from 380V, others only from a regular 220V outlet . The corresponding mark is always indicated on the body of the device.

Current strength

Most welding inverters have a number after the name, usually this is an indicator of the maximum current power declared by the manufacturer. Sometimes careless manufacturers overestimate this figure. In fact, you can find out by looking under the cover of the diode bridge. The current strength of modern devices can be adjusted in the range of 5–500 A.

Welding cycle time

All inverter machines have such an indicator as the duration of the welding cycle. It is measured as a percentage. The generally accepted length is 5 minutes. Therefore, if the manual indicates 40%, then you can work continuously for 2 minutes, and the device should rest for 3 minutes.

Surge protection

Allows you to withstand a decrease or increase in voltage in the outlet. The better the protection, the greater the fluctuations it can withstand.

Ambient temperature

Any device has a range of temperatures at which work is carried out; each type is different, depending on the purpose and manufacturer, and the price category also greatly influences.

Welding inverter cooling system

This characteristic determines how well the welding inverter will be cooled.

Maximum electrode diameter

This parameter shows what the largest thickness of the electrode is when working on a specific device.

Available functionality

Additional functions greatly facilitate the work of the master. One of these is “Hot Start”. With its help, the arc is ignited more easily.

The Arc Force feature helps prevent electrode sticking by automatically increasing the current. "Antistick" automatically reduces the current when there is a threat of electrode sticking to the surface being welded .

How to choose the right welding inverter

In order to choose the right welding inverter, you need to decide for what purpose the device is being purchased. When working at home, infrequently used, with small volumes, you can limit yourself to a small budget option with a power of 160-180 A. If large volumes of welding work are required, then it is better to use semi-professional or professional ones, it all depends on the specific tasks.

If the work involves frequent movement over long distances, it is better to choose a small-sized welding inverter that does not weigh very much for more convenient movement and transportation. In this situation, it is also important to consider that access to a voltage of 380 V is not available everywhere. Therefore, it is best to choose a device powered by 220 V.

In domestic realities, it is quite difficult to ensure good voltage in the network, so it is imperative to buy a welding inverter with protection against sudden voltage drops.

When working outdoors in winter or in poorly heated rooms, it is best to buy devices that operate at low temperatures. Of course, this will most likely affect the price, but a non-working device at the right time can cause much bigger problems. When working in hot places, the machine, on the contrary, can quickly overheat, so it is important, if possible, to buy a welding inverter with a good cooling system.

If your budget allows for better results, you can purchase a unit with additional functions. They greatly facilitate the work of the master. Thanks to them, the seam is more uniform, reliable and even. If you need greater labor productivity, you will have to purchase a welding inverter with a good percentage of the welding cycle duration.

When purchasing a device, it is best to consult with welding professionals and choose products only from trusted manufacturers. The product warranty provided is also important. A welding inverter from untested and dubious manufacturers should have a long warranty period. Only this will help you not to lose money. Whatever equipment is purchased, the main thing is that it corresponds to the money spent on it.

Device settings

Setting up a welding inverter is relatively simpler than other types. The most important parameter here is the welding current setting. Typically, in the attached instructions for use, the manufacturer indicates a table for calculating power to the thickness and type of metal. But if there is no such information in the manual, or it was lost, it is necessary to adhere to the general rule: the greater the thickness of the metal, the greater the current should be .

You can roughly keep the following data in mind:

№	Metal thickness	Current strength:
1	1—1.5 mm	20-50 A
2	2-3 mm	25-100 A
3	4-5 mm	70-140 A
4	6-8 mm	100-190 A
5	9-10 mm	140-230 A
6	11-15 mm	170-280 A

Fine adjustment is carried out during welding work by the master. The setting is carried out on a special regulator, which in most cases is located on the front side of the welding inverter. It is also necessary to choose the correct thickness. Below is a table of calculations of this parameter:

№	Metal thickness	Electrode thickness
1	1-2 mm	1.6 mm
2	2-3 mm	2 mm
3	2-3 mm	2.5 mm
4	3-4 mm	3 mm
5	4-6 mm	4 mm
6	6-8 mm	5 mm
7	10—24 mm	5-6 mm
8	30—60 mm	6-8 mm

In semi-automatic welding inverters, the feed speed of the filler wire can be adjusted.

Working conditions

This type of welding machine is much easier to operate than others. The compactness and light weight of simple inverters allow the master to work in almost any conditions. The main thing is that there is the required voltage in the electrical network. It is unacceptable to overheat the welding inverter; this will allow it to last much longer .

This unit does not tolerate extremely low temperatures . In the cold, not only the inverter winding can be damaged, but also various parts and elements. Moisture also has a detrimental effect on the condition of the welding inverter . Settling moisture can cause short circuits, which will damage the device, or contribute to the formation of oxides and rust.

When using additional equipment, for example, welding in a protective gas environment, it is necessary that it fully corresponds to the purchased welding inverter. All information can be found in the instructions for use.

It is necessary to constantly clean the cooling system from dust and dirt, as this contributes to faster heating. It is best to constantly care for it, wipe it and keep it clean, then it will last a long time.

Source: http://www.m-deer.ru/instrumenty/kakoj-svarochnyj-invertor-vybrat.html

How to choose a welding inverter for home use

Choosing and buying a welding inverter for your home means providing yourself with permanent work, in terms of part-time jobs and odd jobs. However, when choosing, many people do not know which welding inverter is better, the one that is suitable specifically for their needs.

Purchasing an inverter machine today is the best option for people involved in welding. However, even experienced workers do not always know what to look for when purchasing.

What should you look for first when choosing a welding inverter? What characteristics do you need to know to choose a reliable welding tool? Read in this review of the construction magazine samastroyka.ru.

How to choose a welding inverter

To choose the right welding tool such as an inverter, you need to understand what kind of work they will have to do in the future. Today, there are the following types of welding inverters:

• Professional inverters;
• Semi-professional for domestic needs;
• Household welding inverters.

Depending on the class, the price, power, and operating cycle duration vary. So, in case of rare use of the welding machine, it is recommended to purchase a household inverter, which costs much less. Its maximum operating time without interruption is approximately 20 minutes.

The need for semi-professional and professional models is also determined. The latest inverter welding machines can withstand up to 8 hours of continuous use. This factor is the main one when choosing, because using professional inverters for single welding will become completely unprofitable.

Firstly, they are much more powerful, which means they use more electricity, and secondly, due to the thick electrodes, professional devices require special skill to use. You should also definitely pay attention to the power of the purchased welding inverter. In most cases, inexperienced welders believe that models with a power of no more than 4 kW are optimal.

Which welding inverter is best for home use?

However, for some welding work (welding thick rolled metal), such welding machines are not always suitable. Therefore, the choice of welding inverter should be selected based on your goals.

Also, lack of power can lead to rapid breakdown of the inverter. Thus, it is recommended to purchase models whose power is 5 kW. Such welding inverters are able to work even with low power levels.

Another important point is the open circuit voltage. The best models are equipped with an arson device, but good inverters also have this function. So, taking into account all these parameters, you can easily choose a high-quality machine for welding at home.

Source: https://samastroyka.ru/kak-vybrat-svarochnyi-invertor.html

How to choose the right welding inverter for your home

Many of those who need to become more familiar with welding in the 21st century give preference to convenience, mobility and comfort of work, as well as the aesthetic side of the matter.

And if the “old bison” from among experienced professionals still, in the old fashioned way, work on welding transformers produced in the last century, then young people are more drawn to welding inverters.

That’s why young people, when they come to a home construction equipment store, first of all try to choose not just welding inverters, but also focus on the latest developments that have a production year of at least 2007-2010. However, along with obvious advantages, there are many pitfalls in this process.

Therefore, the correct choice and purchase of a welding inverter, ideal for working at home, on a personal yard or just at a country dacha, should be based on the following parameters:

• what technological tasks are set for the tool;
• what is the nature of the work to be performed;
• what are the features and operating conditions of the welding inverter.

What do we pay attention to when choosing a tool?

Here is an approximate list of points on which I would like to focus the attention of a beginner who comes to choose a welding inverter in a store:

1. The first thing we will focus on concerns the thickness of the material/parts that we will have to deal with.

Hence, you need to imagine in advance:

• metal thickness;
• pipe thickness (product wall);
• what will be the diameter of the welded reinforcement;
• what rod will be used and so on.

All this should be known in advance, because for a certain thickness of the material you will have to select the required diameter of the electrode, and, based on this indicator, choose what the value of the welding current will be in the specifically selected inverter.

2. Which electrodes will be used during work. Read more in the article “How to choose the right electrodes for welding”. This moment is determined by the type of welding and the thickness of the part.

3. Next, we determine the value of the welding current. We calculate this indicator based on the expected diameter of the electrodes with which we plan to carry out welding work. We use the simplest formula for this.

However, this is a simplified calculation model; in addition, the following should also be taken into account:

• thickness of the part;
• grade of metal being welded;
• what is the position in which welding is supposed to be carried out (horizontal, vertical, at an angle, etc.);
• type of welding connection.

After reviewing all the above options, you can start selecting the required tool.

4. After this, we decide on the type of network in which we will work.

There may be several options here, they consist of:

• home stationary electrical network with a voltage of 220 V;
• autonomous power supply using an electric generator, which also maintains a voltage of 220 V;
• stationary industrial 3-phase network, respectively 3 at 380 V;
• autonomous 3-phase power supply using an electric generator supporting voltage 3 to 380 V.

5. We take into account the duration of the work and its volume to choose a welding inverter, what its intensity will be. These parameters can be determined after the approximate diameter of the electrodes with which to work and the approximate value of the welding current have been selected.

We roughly imagine for what time periods the inverter is supposed to be used with the selected electrode diameter.

There are three different options here:

• short-term operation;
• average duration;
• continuous operation for two to three hours or more.

6. It is this indicator that ultimately determines what the characteristics of the remaining parameters of the selected tool will be.

There are two of them:

• indicator of the rated current of the welding process;
• the value of the on-time duration (also called abbreviated PV and measured as a percentage).

What is the on-time value? Any source used in welding, be it an inverter, transformer or rectifier, has an intermittent operating mode. That is, welding (when the tool is under load) alternates with pauses (at this time the inverter is idling and there is no load).

Rated current parameters quite often appear in instructions, technical data sheets or advertising brochures of a particular model, along with the corresponding value for the duration of operation of the unit.

It should be taken into account that the rated welding current refers to the operating mode of the tool when it operates without overloading and, accordingly, without overheating. That is, in the format described above, work-pause and so on.

"Pitfalls" and advantages when using a welding inverter

1. Overheating and failure of the unit can be guaranteed if:

• the mains voltage will drop to 190 or even 180 degrees (this sometimes happens, this is especially typical for a network in rural areas), in this case the drop will also be characteristic of the power of the unit, which means the welding current will decrease;
• the cable used for welding will be more than 5 meters in length, in this case you should also expect a drop in the power of the tool;
• a network cable of more than 15 meters in length and a small cross-section will be used, in such a situation the input voltage will decrease and, accordingly, the welding current will decrease;
• the indicator of the duration of inclusion declared in the instructions, technical data sheet or advertising booklet will be overestimated, this practice is not common, but it does occur, and the real value of the PV can only be found out experimentally;
• in the passport attached to an inexpensive product that is supposed to be used in everyday life, the rated welding current will be 160 A; this is obvious misinformation, which is also clarified by pre-sale test operation of the unit directly in the store.

It’s even better to take a tool with a reserve of on-time indicator: if you need an indicator of 100 or 120 A, take a tool of 160 A, and if you need a unit with a rated current of 160 A, you should choose a device of 200 or 250 A.

2. You need to pay close attention to the expected voltage in the network that you have at home or in the country. There are often cases when this figure actually turns out to be underestimated.

There is nothing terrible in this case, it is not fatal, since modern inverters are produced, including, taking this possibility into account. Just when choosing a tool, you will need to pay attention to the availability of capabilities for working with large deviations (most inverters are designed for fluctuations of plus or minus 15 percent, this corresponds to approximately 187-volt voltage in the network).

If preliminary measurements show deviations towards an even greater decrease, then you should be more careful in your choice and purchase an inverter that is designed for the corresponding voltage deviations in the network.

3. Many welding inverters have a built-in thermal protection system. This is an excellent feature that allows the unit to automatically turn off if the operating mode is disrupted.

But you should not completely trust such automation. After all, there are inexpensive models where such thermal protection works a certain number of times, and then, when you get used to it, it can suddenly fail.

Therefore, it is better to adapt to the normal operating mode of the tool through experience, and then try to stick to it without relying entirely on automation.

4. A good inverter is one that has a digital display. This is very convenient because it allows you to visually check the operating parameters of the tool.

5. The built-in unit, which automatically reduces the voltage during idle operation (that is, during pauses between welding), also makes work easier; it is called VRD. This function is especially effective if the welder works in a room with high humidity or in a confined space.

Source: http://invertor.ksio.ru/vibor/kak-ego-vybrat

How to choose the right welding inverter - what to look for

Nowadays, welding inverters are on everyone’s lips and are presented in a huge assortment in any hardware store. Although more recently, welding was the lot of wealthy people or various Kulibins, who made transformers on their own.

The latter were widespread, but the quality of welding, as well as reliability, was questionable. But those times have passed and now everyone, for a modest price, can acquire their own welding, which will be economical, safe and mobile.

The question remains: how to choose a welding inverter among all the variety?

Advantages of a welding inverter in everyday life

When these devices first appeared on the market, they immediately gained considerable popularity among experienced welders and became an indispensable assistant for those who decided to purchase welding for their own needs. The new devices were many times lighter than transformers, they were easier to work with, they were more economical and had a long list of advantages. Today, we can talk about such positive aspects of inverters as:

• high efficiency up to 95%;
• economical consumption of electricity and consumables;
• low load on the electrical network;
• ease of arc ignition,
• minimal splashing;
• ease of learning and use;
• mobility;
• wide selection of models, from entry-level to professional level;
• device availability.

That is, if you live in a private house, are the owner of a summer house, or are simply a jack of all trades, then you are obliged to buy yourself an inverter; we’ll look at how to choose it below. The cost of some budget models is comparable to the services of a welder. If you decide to create a canopy or arch with your own hands using a purchased device, then in the end you will have not only welding, but also considerable experience in welding work.

Inverter classification

As we have already said, welding inverters are divided into devices according to the level of specialization of the welder, but this is not the only classification. Before choosing an inverter welding machine, you should understand their classification. Based on functionality, the following types of inverters are distinguished:

1. Manual arc (MMA) is a classic option and the most popular choice of most
   buyers. This type involves manual arc welding using coated electrodes. The cheapest inverters, as well as the most affordable consumables, are of the MMA type.
2. Semi-automatic in shielding gases (MIG/MAG) is a more advanced option that is suitable for experienced welders and professionals. MAG – semi-automatic wire welding in an active gas environment (carbon dioxide). MIG – electric arc welding with automatically fed wire in an inert gas environment (argon), is characterized by the best quality of seams for semi-automatic devices. The semi-automatic is not recommended as a starter kit; it has a number of difficult-to-learn settings that may be difficult for a beginner to understand. They switch to semi-automatic when the welder cannot obtain the desired result using MMA type welding.
3. Argon-arc with a non-consumable electrode (TIG) is the most advanced inverter welding, their feature is that the welder can get the best quality weld for inverters only using TIG welding. Also an important factor is versatility, that is, you can weld almost any metal without much difficulty, including cast iron, titanium, any stainless steel, aluminum and a number of other difficult-to-weld alloys. Welding occurs due to an arc formed at the end of a non-consumable electrode in an argon environment; solder is fed manually during welding.

Universal – special devices that allow you to combine types of welding machines and operating modes. For example, MIG/MAG and MMA devices, also TIG/MMA and TIG/MMA/MIG/MAG. The latest welding machines are among the most expensive, but they allow you to choose the type of welding that is most suitable at the moment.

How to choose an inverter?

Knowing what kind of inverters exist and for what needs we will use it, we can present a number of criteria that will help anyone choose a high-quality device to suit their needs. To understand which welding inverter to choose, it is worth carefully considering their main characteristics. Let's start with the main thing - the purpose of the future device.

If welding is needed for professional needs or on an industrial scale, then the obvious choice will be TIG and MIG/MAG devices. Considering the need for a good machine, your knowledge will allow you to choose the welding method yourself, so we will focus specifically on choosing MMA welding as a device for a beginner or for general use in everyday life.

1. Sensitivity to network voltage. We will start with perhaps the most implicit criterion for ignorant people - acceptable network drawdowns. Very often in the private sector, garage cooperatives and dachas, the declared 220 V remains 200, and in some cases even 180-170 V. At the same time, the efficiency of powerful consumers of electricity - such as kettles, microwaves, etc. - immediately decreases. The same will happen with the inverter, so if the voltage in the network sags, it is better that the selected device is insensitive to such changes.
2. Power. Again, pay attention to the condition of the network, and specifically the wiring and machines.
   Despite the fact that modern inverters have a low load on the network, the old electrical system of garages or summer cottages may not be able to withstand even such a load. On the other hand, the power of the inverter will determine the available scope of work for the welder. The higher this indicator, the greater the amount of work that can be performed and are not afraid of thick metals.
3. Operating temperatures. This indicator is very important, because few inverters work in a dry room with 21 degrees Celsius; welding is used in a humid environment and at sub-zero temperatures and in the heat. When you buy a device for household needs, it should be ready for use at any time. If the range of available temperatures is small, then there is a high probability of device failure, this happens because when overheating or excessive cooling occurs, the circuit boards and other electronic components of the device suffer, and in some cases destructive moisture is formed. To avoid this, follow the temperature conditions specified by the manufacturer or select inverters with large temperature tolerances.
4. Protection. Each device you choose must have a number of protective functions, and the greater the number, the higher the chance that frequent mistakes by beginners will not lead to failure of the equipment or electrical network. A very important function is overheating control, protection against power surges and short circuits. Passive protection from dust and moisture will also be no less useful.
5. Duty cycle . This parameter is indicated for each device and characterizes the duration of the working cycle and rest. The transformer equipment of the inverter gets very hot and to protect against overheating and failure of the mechanisms, the manufacturer indicates how much time it takes to work and how much time to cool down. The optimal indicator is 40 - 50% of workers, which means the device can work continuously for 4-5 minutes out of 10, the rest of the time should be rest. More precise numbers are indicated in the operating instructions, and in some cases this parameter is controlled by software.
6. Rated current .
   If welding has the ability to produce a current of more than 200A, this will allow you to efficiently weld thick metals and easily cut sheets and rods of medium thickness. High current ratings allow the use of thick electrodes. Diameter of electrodes. By and large, only the speed of operation depends on the size of the electrode. If you have access to electrodes with a thickness of 4 mm or more, then you can easily cope with quickly welding thick steel plates and obtaining high-quality penetration, which will be difficult to achieve with electrodes of smaller diameter.
7. Price. Last, but not least, is the price. It comes last only because it is impossible to choose a reliable and high-quality device based solely on the price of the inverter. Knowing the criteria listed above, we weigh the pros and cons of various welding methods and choose the best one in terms of price/quality ratio.

We recommend! TOP 6 household models of inverter semi-automatic machines

Additional features

If you have already selected several devices, but cannot finish choosing a welding inverter, then you should also pay attention to the following selection criteria:

• Assistants - “Hot Start”, “Anti-Stick” and “Arc Force” will not be superfluous even for experienced welders, and will provide irreplaceable help for a beginner.
• Maintainability. Any equipment breaks down, so you should think in advance about what you will do if it breaks down. The proximity of service centers and availability of parts is a definite plus. Here, devices from China compare favorably, which regularly improve the quality of mechanisms and flood the markets with spare parts.
• Guarantee period. The bigger it is, the better. Very often, well-known manufacturers can guarantee service for inverters for 24 or even 36 months, which significantly exceeds the guarantee of competitors.

Now you know exactly how to choose the right welding inverter that will satisfy all your requirements. In addition, we suggest watching a video on this issue:

Source: https://svarkagid.ru/instrumenty-i-oborudovanie/kak-vybrat-svarochnyj-invertor.html

the best household welding machines for home and garden 2019

Flaws:

• Poor quality plastic case.

Which welding machine can be recommended for home and garden from these 2 options? Choose by price: where is cheaper.

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Svarog PRO ARC 160 (Z211S)

Cost – 9000 rubles.

Specifications:

• Mains voltage: 220 V (±15%)
• Current in MMA mode: 10 - 160 A
• MMA current at 60% duty cycle: 160 A
• Electrode diameter (min - max): 1.5-3.2 mm
• Protection class: IP 21
• Insulation class: F
• Power factor (COS?): 0.70
• Article: Z211S
• Overall dimensions: 313×130×250
• Weight: 4.70 kg.

This device is an innovative version of the 2014 inverter. It is capable of operating at low voltage - from 175 V. The main scope of application is surfacing and manual arc welding with an electrode with a diameter of less than 3.2 mm. Manual TIG welding is also possible. But for this you will have to acquire a valve burner.

Among the features of the model are a knob for smooth adjustment of the welding current, an arc force regulator, and a digital indicator on which the current welding current is displayed.

• Five-year warranty service for the device (with maintenance, starting from the third year of use).
• Light weight – 4.7 kg.
• Metal spattering during welding is minimal.
• Compactness.
• Highly stable arc combustion.
• Developed dealer network - about 125 services in Russia.
• Useful features: arc force, anti-stick and quick start.

• Some users complain about the machine triggering in cases where the seam length exceeds 5 cm.

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The average cost is 14,000 rubles.

Technical characteristics of Resant

• Mains voltage: 220V
• Current in MMA mode: 10 - 190 A
• Electrode diameter (min - max): 5 mm
• Rated voltage: 65V
• Protection class: IP 21
• Article: 65/30

This powerful inverter-type welding machine for home and garden is famous for its ease of operation, reliability and functionality. It is used for manual electric arc welding. And this brand is perhaps one of the most famous in Russia. Stable arc burning ensures a dense, even seam. Special PFC technology allows operation under voltage drops of up to 100 V. The device can also be connected to a 4.6 kW generator.

• Convenient arc force adjustment.
• Useful additional functions are “anti-stick” and “hot start”.
• Compact, convenient transport handle.
• Good penetration and minimal metal spattering.
• Digital display showing the welding current.
• Lightweight: the device weighs only 8.9 kg.
• Suitable for welding any ferrous metal, stainless steel, copper with a thickness of more than 0.3 mm.
• Energy savings compared to similar devices – 30% (due to reduced electromagnetic field).

• Welding leads are too short.
• This device could have been at the top of our rating if not for the large number of not very good reviews on various construction forums.

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MARS MMA 2000 (case) – the most profitable welding

The average price is 7,000 rubles.

Specifications

• Supply voltage, V - 220
• Supply frequency, Hz - 50/60
• Power consumption, kVA - 5.3
• Maximum input current of the network, A - 24
• Welding current control range, A - 10–160
• PV, % - 60
• Open circuit voltage, V - 70
• Efficiency,% - 85
• Power factor - 0.93
• Insulation class - F
• Degree of protection - IP21
• Weight, kg - 7

The inverter is built on the basis of PWM and IGBT technologies. The following equipment is used for welding: electrodes of rutile and alkaline type, made of cast iron, stainless steel. The device is ideal for those who value mobility. A high level of work safety is ensured by the antistatic and moisture-proof housing. An important role is played by the function that reduces the no-load voltage.

• Stable arc ignition and low power consumption.
• High performance.
• Long service life.
• Automatic overload protection system.
• High-quality penetration.
• The efficiency reaches 85%.
• Autovoltage.
• The design is based on easily replaceable circuit boards.
• The delivery set includes an electrical holder and a terminal.
• Reliable automatic overload protection.

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Cedar mma 220f – easy to use

The average price is 8,000 rubles.

Specifications

• Mains voltage: 220 V
• Power at maximum load: 5.94 kW
• Current in MMA mode: 20 - 220 A
• Electrode diameter (min - max): 1.6-5.0 mm
• Protection class: IP 21
• Article: mma220f
• Overall dimensions: 320x123x220
• Weight: 5 kg.

The inverter of this company is used for electric arc welding with consumable electrodes with a diameter of 1.6 to 4 mm. If you connect a gas cylinder and a torch, you can carry out argon arc welding.

The device does not lose its functionality even when the voltage drops to 140 V. Therefore, it is often used for out-of-town work.

• High-quality and even seam - due to the use of inverter technology.
• The presence of many useful functions: hot start, arc forcing, anti-sticking.
• Lightweight, compact and easy to control.
• Tunnel-type cooling system with a fan that automatically turns on at a certain temperature.
• Innovative transistors operating on the PWM principle.
• Copper tracks - minimize the likelihood of burnout.
• A reliable microprocessor that controls the operation of the device.
• There are blinds built into the cooling system that protect internal mechanisms from foreign particles and dirt.

• There is no standard scoreboard.

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Summarize

I hope our review will help you figure out which welding machine is best to buy. The rating includes devices from well-known brands. If you are very limited in budget, choose the cheapest one presented. They're all good.

Reviews

Below you can read reviews about welding inverters. What models do people use, what company do they prefer, etc.

Sergey Odintsov

Source: https://electrod.biz/obzoryi-produktsii/top-6-luchshih-byitovyih-svarochnyih-apparatov.html

How to choose a welding inverter for your home, types of inverters

How to choose a welding inverter

Today, welding at home does not require a bulky transformer apparatus. It has been replaced by lightweight and mobile inverters that make it possible to effectively cope with the task of welding metals.

At the same time, not everyone fully understands which inverter is needed for the home and which welding machine is sufficient for their own needs. This article from mmasvarka.ru will tell you how to choose a welding inverter for your home, depending on the main parameters.

Advantages of a welding inverter

The first welding inverters appeared on the markets relatively recently, causing a lot of noise among welders. Having a very light weight and small dimensions, welding inverters are to the taste of many, and have successfully taken a leading place in the electric welding market.

Among the main advantages of welding inverters, it is not difficult to highlight the following:

• The efficiency of the welding inverter reaches 95%;
• Profitability in absolutely everything, and especially in energy consumption;
• Minimal spatter and ease of arc ignition;
• All kinds of additional functions that significantly simplify welding, for example, anti-sticking and arc force;
• Light weight and minimal dimensions (the welding inverter can be worn on the shoulder while welding).

For those who live in their own home or have a dacha, a welding inverter is no longer a luxury, but a common necessity. You can always weld and repair something, put up a fence or make a simple barbecue in a couple of hours yourself, without resorting to the expensive services of electric welders.

Classification and types of inverters

Today you can find different types of welding inverters on sale. It goes without saying that you need to understand the complexity of the work that will have to be performed with a welding inverter, how often and for how long it will need to be used.

MMA inverters - welding inverters of this type are intended exclusively for manual arc welding with a coated stick electrode. This is the most acceptable option for a welding inverter for domestic use. MMA inverters belong to the category of the cheapest and most affordable inverters, as well as consumables for them.

Semi-automatic inverters - used for welding metals in shielding gases. Carbon dioxide and wire are used as consumables. Semi-automatic MIG-MAG inverters are more advanced equipment for obtaining fast and efficient welding results in production plants.

Argon-arc inverters are high-tech equipment for welding various types of metal. Argon-arc inverters can be used to weld both steel and titanium, cast iron, aluminum, etc. The cost of welding inverters of this type is the highest on the market, and to use them you need to have experience and knowledge.

In addition, there are so-called universal inverters that allow you to combine several welding modes at once, for example TIG/MMA/MIG/MAG or MIG/MAG.

How to choose a welding inverter for your home

It goes without saying that nothing of the kind is required for domestic purposes, and a relatively inexpensive inverter for manual arc welding can cope with a wide variety of tasks. However, here too, it is very important to take into account certain characteristics of the inverter in order to select it based on the specifics of welding work.

Therefore, in order to choose the right inverter for home use, pay attention to the following characteristics:

Rated current value - this parameter is important to take into account when knowing how thick the metal will have to be welded. Many inverters have a maximum current of 160. And, for most welding jobs at home, this will be quite enough.

At the same time, the permissible diameter of the electrodes used directly depends on the current strength of the welding inverter. The higher the current, the larger the electrode diameter can be used for welding thick metals.

For domestic use, a welding inverter with a rated current of 160-200 Amperes is sufficient.

Sensitivity to low voltage - welding inverters are damaged not only by their low weight and small dimensions, but also by their ability to weld at low voltage in the electrical network.

Therefore, before choosing a welding inverter for your home, think about how stable the voltage is in your home and whether you will have to connect the inverter to a gasoline generator.

Most inverter welding models can operate at a reduced voltage of 140-160 Volts, and this is a very important point if the voltage in the house constantly jumps.

Inverter power - a lot depends on the power of the inverter, but first of all, the difficulty of performing welding tasks. A powerful inverter is able to cope with thicker metals, however, it will also create a somewhat greater load on the electrical network.

Most household inverters for welding have a power of 4-5 kW, and this is quite enough for domestic purposes. In addition, a low-power welding inverter can be connected to a 2.5-3 kW generator and weld with a 2-3 mm electrode, without any problems.

You should know that in the technical data sheet for an inverter, its power is most often indicated in kVA, which must be converted to kW in order to know not the total power of the inverter (kVA), but the useful power (kW).

The duty cycle is a very important parameter, which indicates how long the inverter can continuously cook until the protection is triggered. Most household inverters only have a 5 minute cycle time, but this is enough to handle most home welding tasks. It is unlikely that you will cook continuously for more than one minute, since in any case, you will need to beat off the slag, adjust something, or replace the electrode with a new one.

Additional functions - a modern welding inverter is equipped with additional functions that make it easy for a novice welder to weld and handle it very easily. The most common functions of welding inverters, such as: “Anti-stick”, “Hot start” and “Arc force” will allow you to use the machine in question for welding with great comfort. You can read about what a welding inverter consists of in another article.

And, of course, you need to look at the cost, manufacturer, and warranty period for the welding inverter; the larger it is, the better, of course. Sometimes there is no need to take an overly expensive inverter, just because of the “brand name”; here it is best to look, as always, for the “golden mean”.

Source: https://mmasvarka.ru/kak-vybrat-svarochnyj-invertor.html

How to choose an inverter welding machine - useful tips

Welding work is very common in everyday life. Many home craftsmen successfully perform this work on their own. In order for the result to be of high quality, it is necessary to use high-quality devices. One of the best options is an inverter. It is a device that can be placed on a par with a transformer and rectifiers.

An inverter-type device is more modern and better than other welding devices. One of its main advantages is ease of use. Because of this, such a device is common among welders. It is worth remembering that this device is quite expensive.

Inverter design, classification

The design of the inverter device is more complex than that of welding machines powered by a transformer. In it, the electric current is converted in the following form:

• straightened, smoothed with a special filter;
• converted to variable high frequency;
• the voltage decreases, and in parallel the electric current increases;
• the current is rectified again.

All of the above transformations are carried out using a network filter, rectifiers, and frequency converters. The output current has characteristics that are sufficient to create a high-power arc that melts almost any material.

How to choose a welding inverter? You need to know what its technical characteristics are.

1. Power. Registered in the unit passport. The rated welding current is indicated, at which the machine does not overheat and shut down. If you need 120 A of rated current, it is advisable to purchase a device with a power of 180 A. This will make it possible to use electrical cables longer than 5 m and weld metal when the voltage in the electrical network is unstable.
2. Duration of work. Indicates how long it is possible to use the unit without switching off.
3. Supply voltage range. This indicator is especially significant for metal processing with voltage instability. This is typical for villages and dachas.
4. Electrode anti-stick, hot start, arc stabilization. These parameters affect the ease of use of the device.

When choosing a welding inverter, it is necessary to take into account the strength of the output current. It depends on what metals can be melted using the device. There are devices:

• low power (from 140 to 160 A);
• medium power (from 160 to 200 A);
•  high power (from 200 to 250 A).

Low-power units are usually used for forming small cosmetic seams and processing materials of small thickness. Medium-power devices are more common than others and allow you to create high-quality seams. High power devices are classified as professional equipment. They are used if it is necessary to weld parts of metal of large thickness.

Current strength is an important characteristic that must be taken into account when choosing an inverter. In addition, inverter devices are divided according to the type of welding modes into (markings are indicated in brackets):

• manual arc welding (MMA);
• semi-automatic (MAG/MIG);
• argon (TIG);
• plasma (CUT).

For the dacha and home, it is optimal to use a device belonging to the first category. Such units weigh little and are great for household work. You need to buy regular electrodes for them.

Semi-automation is usually used in production. The power and dimensions of this equipment are quite large. A special wire is fed to the arc, thereby forming a weld.

Argon devices are quite difficult to operate. You need to purchase tungsten electrodes for them; an arc is formed upon contact with an inert gas. Such equipment is expensive, there is no point in using it in domestic conditions. Plasma devices, in fact, are not considered welding devices, but they function similarly.

Additional functionality, performance characteristics

How to choose the right welding inverter? You need to know what functions a particular unit has. Devices produced today are equipped with overheating protection. Thermal sensors turn off the power if one part of the unit becomes too hot. This function is available in almost all devices.

In addition to temperature sensors, the inverter device is equipped with protection systems against the penetration of water and dust. These systems differ in levels of protection, methods of changing and cleaning filters.

For beginners, such a function as anti-sticking is especially relevant. If the electrode sticks to the workpiece being processed, the voltage of the device is reset and the circuit is expected to open. When the electrode is released from the part, the inverter unit begins to supply electric current.

When the device is running and is in standby mode, the voltage on the electrode element is reduced to a level that is not dangerous for the welder in automatic mode. This mode makes it possible to avoid accidental electric shock.

How to choose a welding machine? It is necessary to take into account various technical characteristics on which the operation of the purchased device directly depends. A very significant parameter is the range of input voltages. The best option is to purchase a device with a voltage of 170-250 V (the deviation should not exceed 15 percent). The operation of such a unit will not depend on power surges.

The second significant indicator is the radius of the electrode used. It is advisable to purchase a device that works with electrodes with a radius of 2-3 millimeters. By means of them it will be possible to form high-quality seams with reduced stress.

To choose the right welding inverter for your home, you need to pay attention to the following:

1. Suitability of the welding machine for repair. Inverter units are considered quite complex equipment. In order to repair and maintain them, special skills and suitable parts are required. In view of this, if in your city there is no specialized service center for repair/maintenance of the device you intend to buy, it is recommended to choose a device from another manufacturer.

2. Warranty. An important characteristic that needs to be taken into account when purchasing a unit. Well-known manufacturers provide a guarantee of up to 2 years on their products. Various Chinese firms are limited to a couple of months.

3. Suitability for modernization. This is relevant for those who plan to weld non-ferrous metals, since this requires shielding gas. In this case, you need to purchase equipment to which you can connect a gas supply unit and a cylinder.

Modern manufacturers and models

How to choose a welding machine from a modern wide range? The German company FUBAG has an excellent reputation in the market of inverter welding units. Among its products it is possible to find a device of any power. There are devices for both household and industrial work.

These units are not too sensitive to voltage surges and make it possible to form an even and beautiful seam without splashing drops of metal. They are also equipped with a high-quality ventilation system and integrated high voltage protection. They are very easy to use, have a quick start, anti-stick, and “arc force” function.

The cost of FUBAG IR 200 is 10,100 rubles.

The Italian company TELWIN has been famous for many years as a manufacturer of high-quality products. The devices of this company operate from a 220 V power supply. The advantages of TELWIN devices are their small size and weight.

If any welding inverter has all the functions an inexperienced welder needs, it is the TELWIN 165. It operates normally with voltage drops in the range of fifteen percent. Such equipment consumes little electrical energy and is equipped with an effective cooling system.

It can be used with any types of electrode elements. The price of Telwin TIG230DC HF/LIFT+AC is 54,700 rubles.

You can choose an inverter welding machine from ProfHelper. It is especially worth noting the Prestige models, which are in fairly high demand. The most common is the Prestige 181S. It is compact and easy to transport.

With it it is possible to treat surfaces in any place. It also copes well with power surges. The functionality is as follows: hot start, anti-stick, arc force.

Thanks to this set of functions, even an inexperienced welder can form high-quality seams. The price of BlueWeld Prestige 171/S is 17,000 rubles.

When giving recommendations on which inverter unit to choose, one cannot help but recall the Latvian company Resanta. One of its best devices is the Resanta SAI-220.

The device is small-sized, weighs little, has no plastic parts, and works reliably at low voltage. The downside is that the cooling fan is not very durable. If debris gets on it, it may break.

In addition, the stroke control knob is easy to move. Settings may change if the device is moved. The price of “Resanta SAI-220” is 8,000 rubles.

By using these helpful tips and choosing the right welding inverter, you can ensure your welding experience is simple. Don't try to save money on your purchase. Cheap welding machines can fail at the most inopportune moment and are unable to provide acceptable quality of the weld.

Source: https://oxmetall.ru/svarka/kak-vybrat-invertornyj-apparat

Choosing a welding inverter - valuable recommendations from experts

Even in everyday conditions, equipment for working with metal is often required, so the question of how to choose a welding inverter is now being asked by non-specialists. The predecessors of this device were welding transformers, which were not characterized by stable operation and had decent dimensions and weight. It was these characteristics that were the limiting factors for private users to purchase such equipment for their own needs.

How not to make a mistake when choosing an inverter?

Advantages of welding inverters

A modern inverter welding machine is a compact device that is highly reliable and easy to operate. Such equipment implements advanced technical developments, thanks to which it becomes efficient and maximally functional.

The characteristics of household welding machines make it possible to obtain welding current of various values ​​at their output. This allows them to be used for welding work with different metals and with parts of different thicknesses. A modern household welding machine has the following advantages.

• Almost every modern inverter is equipped with protective electronic systems that ensure its automatic shutdown in situations where there is a risk of its failure (voltage surges, overheating, too long operation).
• The use of such a device allows you to obtain connections with smooth and reliable welds.
• During the welding process, the current value remains stable (this characteristic is ensured by the design features of such equipment).
• When welding, a minimal amount of spatter is generated.
• When using such a device, the welding arc ignites quickly and burns very steadily, regardless of the degree of influence of external factors on it (strong gusts of wind, careless movements of the welder’s hand, power surges).

The great advantage of such equipment is its exceptional versatility. With its help, you can successfully weld both ordinary steel and metals that are difficult to weld. Even a person who is quite far from welding production can quickly learn how to operate such a device.

Disadvantages of inverters for manual welding

Like any technology, the inverter also has disadvantages. One of the most significant disadvantages is the presence of special requirements regarding the storage of the device. Proper storage conditions require, first of all, protecting it from dust, which can cause serious harm to the device.

It is precisely because of such requirements for storage conditions that manufacturing companies and construction organizations choose welding machines that are not so sensitive to the state of the external environment. Such devices, which include welding transformers and generators, can be safely left outdoors without worrying that this will seriously affect their technical characteristics. The disadvantage of inverters is their cost, which exceeds the price of welding transformers.

The choice of inverters today is very extensive

In addition, inverters require appropriate maintenance. In particular, to maintain devices in working condition, they must be thoroughly cleaned and purged after a long period of operation, which is not required by conventional welding transformers.

It is also important to start working on such a device correctly if it has just been brought in from the street. It is important to know that you can connect the inverter to the network and start working with it only 1.5–2 hours after moving it to a warm room. This requirement is due to the fact that condensation accumulates on the elements of the device, brought into the heat from the street, which can cause problems in its operation.

Rules for choosing a welding inverter

When wondering how to choose a welding inverter, many are guided by the cost of the equipment in question.

There are two main categories of such devices on the modern market: inexpensive ones - produced at Chinese enterprises, and more expensive ones - inverters produced under well-known European brands.

Before choosing an inverter welding machine of a European brand, you should keep in mind that most of the components in such equipment may also be of Chinese origin. That is why it is important to focus not on the cost of the selected equipment, but on its technical characteristics.

The main parameter of any such device, which allows you to choose it correctly, is its power.

The operating principle of such equipment is based on the formation of high-frequency pulses in it, which come from special transistors operating under high voltage (power switches).

These transistors are designed to increase the current in cases where it has decreased in the supply network. To ensure that such inverter elements do not burn out during significant voltage surges in the network, it must be equipped with protective devices.

As a rule, inexpensive inverter models do not provide such protective devices, which can cause equipment failure if voltage surges in your electrical network occur quite often.

Therefore, when choosing a device, it is necessary to focus on such factors as the quality of power supply in the place where the welding equipment will be used.

If this quality is not very high, then it is better to choose a more expensive device that is equipped with all the necessary protective systems.

Some of the popular models of welding inverters

The correct choice of inverter is also influenced by such a parameter as its power consumption. It is especially important to consider this parameter if the welding equipment will be used at maximum welding current values. In this case, the electrical network to which this equipment will be connected may simply not withstand the increased loads and fail.

The instructions supplied with each household welding machine must indicate the fuse with what characteristics should be installed in the electrical network from which it will be powered. You should not experiment and use a fuse with different characteristics, as you may encounter the fact that the weakest sections of your electrical wiring will simply fail.

Before choosing an inverter welding machine, it is also important to find out the permissible duration of its continuous operation, which is indicated in the equipment passport. This parameter means how long you can operate the device uninterruptedly at the maximum value of the welding current. Manufacturers usually indicate this parameter as a percentage.

Several more models presented on the Russian market

So, if the passport for the device indicates that the duration of its activation is 30%, this means that out of 10 minutes at maximum current it will only work for 3, and for the remaining 7 minutes it will automatically turn off and cool down. There are inverters with an on-time rating of 60%, but purchasing them for home use does not make sense, since rarely does anyone use such equipment at maximum current in domestic conditions.

Additional recommendations for choosing equipment

Choosing a welding inverter requires attention to such a parameter of this equipment as the rated current. The rated current is considered to be the current at which the welding equipment operates without overload and does not overheat.

You should select welding equipment based on the rated current value with some reserve. So, for example, if you will primarily use the device at current values ​​of 120 Amperes (welding parts up to 4 mm thick with an electrode with a diameter of 3 mm), then you should choose an inverter with a rated current of 160 Amperes (30–50% more) .

This rule should also be observed because in our electrical networks there is often a significant drop in voltage, which immediately entails a decrease in the strength of the welding current. It will be almost impossible to perform high-quality welding in such cases if you have selected welding equipment without taking into account the rated current reserve. The length of the wires with which you connect the equipment to the electrical network can also affect the reduction in welding current.

When choosing a device, it is also important to evaluate the degree of its protection from moisture and dust. To do this, it is not enough just to look at a photo of such equipment, but it is worth finding out what class its protection corresponds to.

For domestic use, models with a protection class designated IP21 are quite suitable.

There are inverter models with IP23 protection class that can be operated even in slanting rain, but there is no point in overpaying for such an option, because few people will carry out welding work in such weather conditions, and such equipment is not stored in the open air.

Inverter device from the famous manufacturer Resanta

There are several other important characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a welding machine. Consider the following:

• Does the device have additional options that make working with it more convenient and comfortable? These options include: “Hot start” - fast, almost instantaneous ignition of the welding arc; “Anti-sticking” - in cases where the electrode is stuck on the part being welded, the welding current automatically stops supplying it; Arc Force is an option that is especially useful when making vertical welds.  
• Maintainability of the device. Welding inverters are quite complex equipment, the repair and maintenance of which requires not only special knowledge, but also appropriate components. Therefore, if in your region there is no authorized service center for servicing the device that you are going to purchase, then it is better to opt for devices from other brands.
• Guarantee period. An important parameter that you should also pay attention to when choosing a device. Well-known manufacturers provide a warranty period of up to two years for their equipment, while for little-known Chinese companies this period can be measured in only two to three months.
• Possibility of upgrading the device to increase its functionality. This quality is important if you are going to use the machine for welding not only ordinary steels, but also non-ferrous metals, which can only be properly joined in a protective gas environment. In such cases, it is better to opt for equipment to which you can additionally connect a device for supplying shielding gas and, accordingly, the gas cylinder itself.

As you can see, if you choose the right welding inverter, you can purchase a device that will give you the opportunity to effectively and efficiently solve problems associated with welding various metal structures.

Source: http://met-all.org/obrabotka/svarka/kak-vybrat-svarochnyj-invertor.html

How to choose a welding machine for your home and garden

Production, both domestic and industrial, almost always requires the use of a variety of high-temperature equipment. We suggest you consider how to choose a welding machine for your home, an inverter for your dacha and business.

general information

An electric welding machine is a special device that is used to supply current and maintain a welding arc in order to provide cold forging, connecting individual parts or mechanisms.

Photo - Welding machine

This device is necessary for connecting metals (steel, copper, aluminum) that are coated with an electrode (VESWELD E-6013). There are a huge number of different welding machines, they are classified depending on the type of electrodes and type of welding:

1. Manual TIG;
2. Machine;
3. Semi-automatic;

type of electric arc welding:

1. Argon-arc (argon is used);
2. Plasma.

tips for selecting a welding inverter

How to choose an inverter

Before choosing an inverter welding machine, you need to correctly answer yourself a few questions:

1. Which types of arc welding are best for your needs?

For a beginner, as a rule, a device with an automatic wire feed is suitable, but if you already have welding experience, you can choose from a wider range of products. Automatic feeding of welding wire (welding wire) offers a number of advantages. Firstly, it provides higher productivity efficiency because...

the wire is fed in a continuous process and you do not have to constantly change the stick electrode during welding. Secondly, automatic inverters have lower skill requirements.

With a handheld welder, you must coordinate the movements of your hands to feed the electrode rod into the weld pool, while with a wire welder you simply press the trigger on the welder.

Photo - How to choose a welding machine

1. Which type of wire is best for you?

Once you have decided on the type of welder, it is important to select the type of wire. There are two types of this consumable: arc welding (commonly called MIG) and cored wire.

MIG is the best choice when a good appearance is important, and it also produces a neater seam and virtually no crumbs.

MIG can weld a wider range of materials, including thin-walled, say, stainless steel, aluminum, polypropylene, in particular polypropylene pipes.

On the other hand, cored wire is the optimal choice for external procedures since no external shielding gas is required, it already comes out with a flow built into the wire to protect the weld. This process is most suitable for thick-walled materials where wide joints are not considered a big problem. One drawback is that flux cored steel can only be used to weld mild steel.

Photo - Thick seam from a welding machine

Nowadays, most welding machines are created with the ability to use these types of welding together, i.e. The thickness of the metal is no longer as critical as before.

1. What is the thickness of the material you will work with most often?

Generally, it is recommended to use the MIG process on materials that are 24 to 12 gauge; and flux-cored wire only up to 20 gauge. The machine's current output will help determine how thick the metal can be welded. However, the overall process will be able to weld thicker metal than MIG in a single weld pass.

Photo – Welding machine photo

The most important question before choosing an inverter is still what power is available to you to operate a welding machine for your home.

For example, if you will be doing most of your welding work at home (buying it for a garage or workshop), then you only need access to a 115V power source - this will significantly narrow your search.

If you have the opportunity to work at higher rates, then you can safely look at professional devices. Of course, if necessary, you can connect a special diesel generator, but this will cost separate expenses.

1. What are the safety features of welding inverter?

Some cars, for example, Lincoln Electric, the power cable is always cold, i.e. it does not heat up until the trigger is pulled. This means that if you accidentally touch the torch, there will be no sparks that could harm you or the workpiece.

Also, many tips boil down to the fact that you need to choose a machine with thermostatic protection, this will help to significantly reduce the likelihood of the device burning out during a sudden voltage drop. Some devices have a built-in automatic device that protects not only the equipment, but also the wiring of the apartment.

During a power surge or unexpected shutdown of the set, the supply of wire and reserve voltage is completely stopped.

Photo - Sparks from a welding machine

It is better to buy a household inverter welding machine for the home from well-known companies FUBAG IN 163, Kemppi has 550 (Kempi), Prorab FORWARD 1600 (Forward), Fujikura 80S, Resanta, TELWIN NORDIKA (Nordika). Be sure to compare prices before deciding which welding machine to choose. A consultant in electrical stores will help you analyze the cost of a specific device, depending on your needs.

Source: https://www.asutpp.ru/kak-vybrat-svarochnyj-apparat.html