On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 06:12:36 GMT, Gunner wrote:
Any idea of how to calculate the amount of capacitance needed to
reduce idle current in a single phase 220 welder?

Gunner, Idealarc Tig250/250 and Miller Dialarc 300

Yes, I know how to calculate the required capacitor value, if you can give me
the idling inductance of the transformer primary. But you don't know that, and
neither to I.

I do know that Miller uses 250 uF of capacitance in their power factor correction
kit for the Synchrowave 250. That makes it tempting to say 1 uF per amp of output,
but that would be wrong. It depends on the particular transformer. Something in
the neighborhood of 250 uF for your machines should be about right though. You
don't have to hit it right on the nose to get a useful amount of PF correction.

Gary