15 best welding inverters for home and garden: review, price, quality

Almost 90% of connections, both amateur and professional designs, are made electric welding and gas welding torches.Until recently, the quality of welding directly depended on the experience and skills of the electric and gas welder. Today, a good welding inverter can be mastered in a few hours of practice, and the quality of the seam will be satisfactory, since the device “forgives” many mistakes in working with metal.

What to look for when choosing

Usually related to welding machines inverter type is somewhat idealized. It is believed that any inverter welding works without problems even at low voltage, while providing a high-quality arc and good metal penetration. In fact, only the best welding inverters can do this. At the same time, there are many models on the market that cause owners more trouble than they actually help in their work. It happens that such devices are even included in the rating of the best welding inverters.

A modern welder is a complex technique. Most of the inverter consists of electronic components, so operation largely depends on the quality of parts, level of assembly and adjustment.Moreover, under the guise of a branded device you can find a homemade product or a homemade welder.

Therefore, when choosing a welding inverter, you need to pay attention to:

1. Type – professional, household or universal.
2. Maximum welding current and range of its regulation.
3. Availability of service functions, such as anti-sticking or automatic holding of the welding arc.
4. Manufacturer and build quality.
5. Overheating protection available.
6. Maximum continuous welding time with the machine.

In advertising you can find a lot of interesting opportunities, but most often these are marketing techniques aimed at raising the rating of a welding inverter of a certain model or brand.

Typically, parameters such as maximum continuous operation time, as well as additional functions such as hot start or automatic selection of welding current, are necessarily present in all ratings of the best welding inverters. In fact, it is impossible to check either the maximum welding operating time or the “hot start” at the time of purchasing the inverter.

Moreover, all of them have a certain meaning only for an amateur mastering the welding process. For a professional, the time for continuous welding will always be limited, and it is selected not by the capabilities of the welding machine, but by the working conditions.

The brand or country of assembly can indirectly indicate the quality of the device. German inverters assembled in China have long become standard. They are inexpensive, and the attitude towards them is appropriate. But original devices from Japan or Italy enjoy authority even with the high price of the inverter.

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Design features, what you need to pay attention to

Before the advent of inverter-type devices, one of the characteristics indicating good quality was the high weight of welding. Primarily due to the massive transformer iron and thick winding wire.

For a modern inverter, weight also matters. A large but light body of the welder indicates an incorrect layout. The device overheats greatly, so we had to leave more free space for high-quality cooling of the parts.

The device should not be small or too light. The small body and light weight indicate that the manufacturer has saved a lot on the margin of safety (reliability) or tightly packed all the parts in a small volume.

The body is metal, powder coated, the front and back can be plastic. None of the welders install the inverter near the place where the metal is being welded. Therefore, there is no need to fear that flying splashes and drops will melt the outer cladding.

The most important characteristic is welding current. Budget and simple amateur models usually have a range from 20 A to 170 A. In fact, amateur-class inverters do not produce currents of 150 A. Therefore, you don’t have to pay much attention to the maximum current. But the minimum current is important, since a welding inverter is most often used for welding parts with a thickness of 1.5-2 mm, sometimes with a current of up to 10-15 A.

For professional class, the regulation range should be from 10A to 200A. Typically, regulation is performed manually, but there are models with automatic increase and decrease in welding current.

Another characteristic is the electrical power of the inverter. Usually it is indicated in the range of 3.5-7 kilowatts. In practice, the device develops the declared power level only in a cold state at the time of start. In this sense, state employees are kind of more honest, they are not designed for long-term operation, but they produce the stated 4-5 kW for 30-90 seconds, which is required for a beginner to weld. For professionals and all-rounders, power usually drops in all models, no matter how well they are made.

Manufacturers of welding inverters

All electronic components used in inverters are produced in Southeast Asia and the European Union. Therefore, manufacturers are usually divided into 3 groups:

1. Inverters manufactured entirely in the EU using original parts.
2. Welding machines, inverters, produced in China under the Chinese brand. As a rule, these are large corporations that have an interest in maintaining the image of their brand.
3. Welders, the design of which was developed in Germany - Italy, but produced at enterprises in China and the Russian Federation.

This does not mean that domestic inverters are of low quality. They are cheaper, easier to repair, and, as a rule, all the characteristics correspond to the declared ones. Welders produced in the European Union are expensive and work reliably.

We should also mention welding inverters made in Japan. A real dream for any welder. You can buy any model. Japanese inverters are not always designed for 220 V, as a rule, 110 V and 127 V. But they are distinguished by high survivability and good arc quality. Many "Japanese" do not even have additional functions.

When choosing a model, you need to pay attention to the presence of a quality certificate from the manufacturer. The design of the inverter allows them to be produced even in makeshift conditions, so you can easily buy a device of gray or black assembly.

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Rating of the best budget welding inverters

This category includes inexpensive MMA machines designed exclusively for manual welding with a conventional electrode. Mainly designed for amateurs who need an inexpensive device to weld a broken assembly or part a couple of times a year. Approximately 70% of the volume of purchased welders for the home workshop is made up of MMA machines.

SPECIAL IMMA160PN-3

The most inexpensive option for a welding inverter with relatively satisfactory quality of the device. The price for a welder is 3,400 rubles. This does not mean that the device is of low quality. It's just that its capabilities are lower than standard.

Characteristics of the welding inverter:

1. Power 4.9 kW, welding current 20-160 A.
2. The maximum electrode diameter is up to 4 mm.
3. Weight 3 kg, dimensions – 34x22x14 cm.
4. There is a standard set of auxiliary functions: “anti-sticking”, “afterburner” and “hot start”.

Useful time is only 30%. This means that out of 10 minutes of working time, only 3 minutes can be cooked at maximum power. During the rest of the time the inverter will cool down.

This is a classic version of a budget device for those who need to make minor repairs to household belongings, household appliances or furniture from time to time. In general, the device is praised for its low price and simple design. The manufacturer provides a 2-year warranty.

Kedr MMA-200

One of the most popular Chinese inverters.A welder from a well-known brand of hand tools produced in China. Very simple in design, the body material is stamped steel, the front panel is bakelite and heat-resistant polypropylene. Everything indicates that the inverters are manufactured on industrial equipment, and not simply assembled with a screwdriver in the basement.

Main characteristics:

1. Power 5.2 kW.
2. The electrode diameter is from 2 mm (even 1.5 mm) to 4 mm; you can work with 5 mm for a short time.
3. Welding current is from 20 A to 200 A. According to reviews, Cedar can easily hold even more, up to 220 A, but it won’t be able to cook even for half an hour.
4. Duration of work - 60%, that is, 15 minutes of welding, 10 minutes of rest. Option for a summer residence.
5. Dimensions 32x12x20 cm, weight – 5 kg.

There are “anti-stick” and “hot start” functions. On the front panel there are couplings for fastening welding cables and a current control knob. Hot air is blown out by a fan from the rear side.

BISON Compact SA-190K

Manufactured in China, the quality of the welding inverter is quite high. A good inexpensive device. The price of a welder is on average 6,000 rubles.

Model features:

1. The high no-load voltage is 65 V, which means there will be no problems with starting.
2. There are standard functions “hot start”, “afterburner”, anti-sticking.
3. Maximum power 5.4 kW.
4. The diameter of the electrodes is 1.6 – 4 mm.
5. Maximum current 190 A.

In practice, Zubr-Compact is often praised for its ability to withstand overcurrent or welding time. Considering the widespread use of aluminum winding wires, it is better not to experiment with overloads. In general, a Chinese-made welding inverter is quite easy to use and practical.

The manufacturer provides a 5-year warranty.

Wert SWI 190

A popular, lightweight, budget-class device. The weight of the welding inverter is only 2.4 kg. The rated power is 3.7 kW, the maximum current is 190 A, but in reality you can only count on 3.5 kW and 170 A, respectively.

According to reviews, Wert SWI 190 confidently pulls an electrode with a diameter of 4 mm. So with its help you can easily eliminate a leak on a pipe, or weld a massive bracket, or any part with a seam thickness of 4 mm.

Inverters are widely used by repair teams servicing water supply and heating systems inside high-rise buildings. The durable housing made of stamped thin sheet metal can withstand the most barbaric treatment of the inverter, and the recessed control panel with two couplings for welding cables and a current adjustment knob remains intact even if the welder falls on a concrete floor.

FUBAG IR200

One of the most popular home models of welding inverter. If someone in a conversation recommends buying a FUBUG for a workshop, they usually mean this particular model of MMA welder. The cost of FUBAG IR200 is slightly higher than the budget class level. Price on average 8600 rubles.

The FUBAG IR200 design was developed in Germany, but production was launched in China. Therefore, in the market, in addition to the classic models of welding inverter, you can find clones that, in appearance and name, strongly resemble the classic, FUBAG IR200.

Main characteristics of the inverter:

1. Power – 8.6 kW.
2. Operating current from 10 A to 200 A, electrode diameter 1.6-5 mm.
3. The minimum network voltage is 150 V.
4. The design provides three standard auxiliary functions - “hot start”, “anti-sticking” and “welding arc boost”. The useful operating time is only 40%.

In reviews you can often find complaints that the welding inverter produces very high quality welding with a consistently soft arc, but it is clearly not suitable for long-term operation.

Rating of the best welding inverters of high quality and reliability

This category includes models that have earned a reputation for the best results in practical use according to 3 criteria:

1. Trouble-free and reliable welding operation.
2. Comfortable in using.
3. High build quality.

The rating includes all inverter options, both conventional for manual welding and for ordinary purposes, regardless of price and manufacturer of welding equipment.

WESTER MMA VRD 200

The price of a welder is 10 thousand rubles. Overall, the device is worth the money. This is a fairly complex inverter. The built-in control microcontroller is programmed to intelligently control the characteristics. For example, the controller will lower the open-circuit voltage if the device remains turned on for a long time without use.

Characteristics:

1. Open circuit voltage (OC) is 65 V. This is enough to reliably ignite the arc even on an oxidized metal surface.
2. Electrode diameter 1.6 – 5 mm. In theory, it can cook with electrodes up to 6 mm.
3. Useful operating time – 70%.
4. Weight – 6.4 kg.
5. Welding current from 10 to 200 amperes.
6. Power 8.8 kW.

The body is stamped from thin metal, the sides are covered with plastic covers. According to its design, the inverter should not let dust and moisture inside. But it is not recommended to operate the WESTER MMA VRD 200 in extreme weather conditions (snowfall or fog), since the fan will still draw a small amount of atmospheric moisture inside.

Most users evaluate the welding inverter as a real hard worker, reliable and durable.

A relatively good inverter can be recommended for those who are just mastering the art of welding.

Solaris MULTIMIG-224

Dear inverter, the minimum price today is no less than 22 thousand rubles. The welder is capable of working both in manual MMA welding mode and welding in semi-automatic mode (MIG/MAG) in a protective carbon dioxide environment. If necessary, you can weld metal simply in spots, without gas, with one wire. This mode is called FLUX.

Solaris is the device that in the professional environment is called blue welding. The inverter is very popular not only due to the large number of functions and 4 different built-in welding systems. Solaris earned a high rating thanks to the reliable operation of all systems.

Design Features:

1. The power control boards are equipped with reliable, although outdated, transistor switches of the IGBT brand. They are durable and can easily withstand current overload and operation in off-design modes.
2. The system uses double protection against overload and overheating.

In general, the device turned out to be reliable, but heavy. The inverter power is 6.5 kW, with a weight of 14.5 kg. Most budget welding inverters have approximately the same power, but at the same time weigh 3-4 times less. This suggests that the design uses full-fledged copper wires, and not ersatz aluminum.

Supply voltage 160-220 V, maximum current – ​​220 A. Welding electrode diameter 4 mm, for wire 1.0 mm.

Aurora OVERMAN 180

This is a MIG/MAG welding inverter with relatively low power, as for a professional, only 6.6 kW. The main function of the Aurora is semi-automatic operation, welding with metal wire in a protective gas environment.Inside the housing there is a heated gas reducer, as well as a wire feed mechanism. Therefore, the weight of the inverter turned out to be large - 15 kg. Maximum current – ​​175 A.

The design was developed in Russia, but the production of the welder was launched in China.

There are 3 adjustment knobs on the panel. You can reconfigure the minimum current, gas-wire flow and inductance. That is, you can manually select the optimal welding mode for any material.

Aurora’s special feature is the use of special transistors (assemblies) from Toshiba. It is believed that Aurora’s microelement base is one of the most reliable.

The only disadvantage of Aurora is the high price of the inverter; today a welding machine costs from 30 thousand rubles.

FUBAG IQ200

This model can be called the best option in terms of price-quality ratio. A good option for a garage. Welding inverter of the MMA system for manual welding, one of the few devices that are noted for good welding quality and the absence of unnecessary and useless functions. The inverter is often used as mobile equipment for welding work of various levels of complexity.

Characteristics of FUBAG IQ200:

1. Power – 7.7 kW.
2. The inverter conversion system is assembled using IGBT transistors. The welding machine can operate up to 40% of the working time at a current of 200 A.
3. Maximum current – ​​220 A.
4. The optimal electrode diameter is 5.0 mm.
5. Weight 5.2 kg.

The device can operate even with a supply voltage of only 150 V. The price of the welder is 7,800 rubles.

BLUEWELD Starmig 210 Dual Synergic

One of the most popular welding inverters used in professional repair of cars, refrigerators, and transport equipment.Can be used for welding aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel of all grades.

This is a full-fledged semi-automatic welding machine of the MIG-MAG type, it can work both on conventional copper-plated wire with a thickness of 0.8-1 mm, and using a special flux-coated wire electrode.

Characteristics:

1. Power – 5 kW.
2. Welding current up to 200 A.
3. Weight – 11.5 kg.

The welding inverter is equipped with an electronic processor. You can select 17 different programs with template modes for different materials. According to reviews from craftsmen, working as a welder is comfortable, the load on your hands is minimal, so you can weld metal all day long.

But the main feature of the device is considered to be its “indestructible” design. Many welder owners note that the Italian inverter can withstand the load where Chinese and German machines burn out in a few hours.

Rating of the best universal welding inverters

This review includes the best universal devices with the minimum necessary functionality for different operating modes.

Cedar МultiARC -2000

Universal inverter for welding with a consumable electrode or a torch with a tungsten rod in an argon protective environment. Initially, the device was designed for heavy loads in semi-industrial and industrial production conditions. Developed by a Russian manufacturer and produced in China.

You can perform welding in MMA and LIFT TIG modes. In addition to the standard set, “afterburner”, “hot start”, Cedar has a VRD function. With its help, you can achieve very high quality welding and work for a long time at maximum current, regardless of the direction and position of the seam.

Characteristics:

1. Electric power of the inverter is 8.2 kW.
2. The welding current control range is 10-200 A.
3. The recommended electrode diameter is from 2 to 4 mm.

You can cook metal for a long time. The manufacturing company recommends limiting the operating time at maximum power to 20 minutes, but in practice Cedar is able to work longer without losing the quality of the seam.

The price of the model is 42,000 rubles.

BRIMA TIG200P AC/DC

One of the best models of welding inverters from the German brand of the same name, which produces professional electric tools. In addition, this is also the heaviest version of the welder. Its weight is more than 25 kg, although the power is only 5 kW.

A special feature of BRIMA TIG200P AC/DC is the ability to weld metal with both alternating and direct current, which is especially valuable when working with stainless steels, cast iron, and aluminum alloys.

All elements and components in the inverters are of high quality; there are practically no problems with the operation of the welder. The only difficulty is mastering the inverter settings, and it has a lot of them. There are as many as 9 knobs for adjusting welding parameters on the front panel of the case.

In general, such a device can be used in any workshop, auto repair, or production.

Svarog TECH ARC 205 B (Z203)

Welding machine with two operating modes - manual MMA welding and argon-arc torch with a tungsten electrode. The inverter developers tried to do everything to ensure that the electronics are protected from negative factors. Such as overheating, voltage surges and incorrect choice of welding pattern.

Basic characteristics:

1. Power – 9 kW, current regulation range – from 10 to 200 A.
2. The open circuit voltage is 73 V, which means the welding arc will start very easily.
3. The weight of the device is 8 kg.
4. Recommended electrode diameter is 1.5-5.0 mm.

The input circuit of the device is supplemented with a stabilizer, thanks to which it is possible to reduce voltage fluctuations by up to 15%. Accordingly, the quality of the weld seam improves.

If you operate the inverter in TIG mode with a welding current of 170 amperes, the welding time can be longer. Svarog's design has a special module. It controls the temperature of electronics, primarily transistors. If the temperature rises even when blown by a fan, an overheating indication will be displayed on the panel, and after 30 seconds the automation will turn off welding.

BLUEWELD Prestige 186 PRO

A universal welding inverter designed to operate in manual mode with a consumable MMA electrode, as well as in a shielding gas environment with a tungsten tip. You can cook steel, stainless steel, cast iron, and certain brands of aluminum alloys.

Italian engineers managed to combine two opposing qualities in one model - high power and compactness of the device. Electric power – 5 kW, current ceiling – 160 amperes. At the same time, the weight of the welding inverter is only 4.7 kg.

BLUEWELD Prestige 186 PRO is assembled in Italy, so the build quality is the highest. The welding inverter is valued for its reliability, both among professionals and among amateurs. The only drawback is the inflated price of the device - 40,000 rubles.

Quattro Elementi B 225

A relatively simple welding inverter from the Italian company Quattro. Can be used for argon shielded welding (TIG) or used as manual MMA welding. Produced in China.

Characteristics:

1. Power 7.8 kW, maximum current up to 225 amperes.
2. Operating voltage 170-220 V.
3. Recommended electrode diameters are 1.6-5.2 mm.
4. There are built-in functions of “anti-sticking”, “hot start” and “strengthening the welding arc”.

A special feature of the model is the high reliability of the entire inverter circuit. If you choose a device for long-term work with metal throughout the entire working day, then the Quattro Elementi B 225 is best suited. The working time indicator of this model is as much as 80%. That is, you still need to try to burn the welding inverter, since the design provides protection against constant overheating.

The price for this model is only 10 thousand rubles.

Choosing which welding inverter is best is not easy. First of all, you need to understand the tasks for which welding is purchased. The second factor is the quality of the device. You quickly get used to all the features during the work process, so they are of secondary importance.

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