CST280 Dinse or Tweco lead connectors?

[clint738]

Looks like the CST 280 is considered the best inverter stick welder, but now I have a few questions so I can pick the right machine.

I have 2 question topics, one on the connector types Dinse vs Tweco and the second regarding the different voltage CST 280 Stick welders.

1 - What is the difference in using the Dinse vs Tweco, is one a better (more robust) connection style?
- What is the advantage/disadvantages of each?

Looks like for my application I will be needing 35-50ft #2 welding/ground leads.

I measured with a Fluke meter and I have 242Vac here.

2 - There are two different voltage models in the CST 280

A - 220-230V / 460-575V Model
- Dinse
- Tweco
** Max open-circuit voltage (77Vdc)

B - 208-230V / 400-460V Model
- Dinse
- Tweco
** Max open-circuit voltage (67Vdc)

Why are there 2 different Models? Is one for European 50Hz and the other type for US 60Hz?

There is also a VRD model (Voltage reduction) which has a lower max open-circuit voltage of 30VDC, but I don't think I want that one since I have read on here about people having a hard time starting the arc with that feature.

Thanks!

[elvis]

Mine has dinse, but my leads are tweco. So I just some adapters. My understanding is that it just depends on what industry your in. Also, my receptacle has a measured 238v. If you want to run it on industrial power then the 400-500v part is important.

If I was in your shoes I would see what type of leads I could get for a good price, and then buy a machine that fits those leads. Also, you could get 25' leads then 25' extensions. Or whatever length extensions meet your needs. Just put your tweco/dinse twist connectors on the extensions and you'll be good to go.

[BD1]

When I got my CST 280 tweco connectors were all they had. I just took tweco
male and a short piece of cable and added jackson females on the end. All my cable connectors are jackson.

[clint738]

Why will miller include 2 Dines male connectors with the machine but not Tweco connectors?

Are Tweco connectors proprietary or more expensive? Why not provide for both?

[clint738]

I don't have any stick welding leads or tig welding leads of any sort, so I will be starting from scratch. Thats why I figured some of you might have some suggestions on what you would do if you could start from scratch and purchase it all to match.

It looks like the tig lead side is the part puzzling me.

Do air cooled (with valve) tig welding leads typically come in one or the other, or are they readily available in both dinse and tweco?

For the CST 280, does the tig gas go through the dinse or tweco connector or is some special adapter needed that may determine if I need one or the other type connectors?

[BD1]

Here's the manual site.
http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o217655e_mil.pdf page 17

This may help too , http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/

Field welding set up from another site.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...eld+arc+welder

[clint738]

Here's the manual site.
http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o217655e_mil.pdf page 17

This may help too , http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/TIGhandbook/

Field welding set up from another site.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...eld+arc+welder

Thanks BD1 for some of the links. I've read through the CST 280 over and over when I was looking for the lead length ratings and supply ratings.

Judging by what I've seen a lot on cyberweld, it looks like I may have an easier time finding connectors that are DINSE style, so I'm thinking of getting a welder with the DINSE style connections.

Anyone think I should go with the TWECO instead?

It just looks like the TIG torches seem to always use DINSE so it might be easier to get a machine with them and not have to use TWECO/DINSE adapters.

[BD1]

It really doesn't matter what the machine has. We made up short pigtails from machine connector to our jackson connector. The cable in between was about 12'' long.
Length of lead ? You mean for stick welding ? It is not uncommon for us to run
200' to 300'. This is jobsite conditions.
You can't go wrong on connectors. See what is in stock and go from there. When work bought a bunch of CST 280's we got both. That's the reason for the pig tails. All our cable, stingers, and grounds have jackson connectors.

[elvis]

Thanks BD1 for some of the links. I've read through the CST 280 over and over when I was looking for the lead length ratings and supply ratings.

Judging by what I've seen a lot on cyberweld, it looks like I may have an easier time finding connectors that are DINSE style, so I'm thinking of getting a welder with the DINSE style connections.

Anyone think I should go with the TWECO instead?

It just looks like the TIG torches seem to always use DINSE so it might be easier to get a machine with them and not have to use TWECO/DINSE adapters.

It sounds like you do not need to make this work at a jobsite. Given that just get the dinse. You can get a dinse connector for a tig torch that has a gas hose out the top that will go over to your flowmeter. Then you can use a torch with a gas valve on it and lift tig. I run something similar. Works fine. When you start your arc you can hold the tungsten away from your work piece about the thickness of your filler rod and then whip the filler through the gap to start the arc. That is a fun little trick.

If you go somewhere and need a different end just make some pigtails. Mine are just dinse on one end and tweco on the other with a short lead of 1/0 or 2/0, I don't remember. As you have some extra coin you could make pigtails so that you are always prepared. I do something like that with power cords. My machines run 6-50p ends and the shop I'm at right now only have 14-50r to supply the power. So I just have a short conversion cord that I made for a few bucks. Works fine. I need to make one to run off a 3-prong dryer plug so that I can take machines to other peoples houses.

[clint738]

It sounds like you do not need to make this work at a jobsite. Given that just get the dinse. You can get a dinse connector for a tig torch that has a gas hose out the top that will go over to your flowmeter. Then you can use a torch with a gas valve on it and lift tig. I run something similar. Works fine. When you start your arc you can hold the tungsten away from your work piece about the thickness of your filler rod and then whip the filler through the gap to start the arc. That is a fun little trick.

If you go somewhere and need a different end just make some pigtails. Mine are just dinse on one end and tweco on the other with a short lead of 1/0 or 2/0, I don't remember. As you have some extra coin you could make pigtails so that you are always prepared. I do something like that with power cords. My machines run 6-50p ends and the shop I'm at right now only have 14-50r to supply the power. So I just have a short conversion cord that I made for a few bucks. Works fine. I need to make one to run off a 3-prong dryer plug so that I can take machines to other peoples houses.

Elvis, it looks like you are definetely the person I need to talk to since you have the CST 280 w/17v air cooled tig torch. I am looking for the 200A tig torch with valve complete setup (hoses and regulator) but they don't give the valvle option in the package here:
http://store.cyberweld.com/200ampairtig.html

I think I will specify the machine connector type based on the tig setup. I can always use adapters on the stick stuff.

I am just not sure what setup I need. I also will be wanting the heavy duty 14-pin version petal for tig.