HRE.COM TOOL REVIEW

HTP Invertig 201 Inverter Tig Welder.
List price $2395.00 Air Cooled / $2895.00 With 2 Gallon Cooling Unit and WC Torch

PART 1

At some point in time, we all need to upgrade our equipment. If you've been in this business for any length of time, you will remember how excited you were to get a square wave machine to do your tig welding with. If you're just starting out, you are faced with a huge choice in machines that didn't even exist 20 years ago. I've been welding with transformer machines for over 40 years and while they are certainly capable of doing anything you might throw at them, they are limited by the nature of the machine itself. With a transformer machine, you can adjust current, balance and polarity (for using stick or MMA) but you're stuck with the frequency that the machine is built with (either 50Hz or 60Hz). This isn't a problem until you weld for the first time with a machine where every parameter is adjustable. Once you've tried that, going back to your transformer box is going to be a hard thing to do.

I spent a good long time weighing the choices and doing research as to which inverter machine would serve me best. Before I get into that, Let me explain a little bit about what an inverter machine actually is. Without giving a lesson on every aspect of inverter technology, let's boil it down to a couple of important points;

Size and Weight

Inverter power supplies are smaller and lighter than transformer Machines, Typical squarewave machines tip the scales at 200 lbs to over 400lbs, while a comparable power inverter will weigh between 30 and 70 lbs. Being smaller in size, they take up less room in the shop, are more portable and are easier to move around.

Power Requirements

Some inverters are able to run on dual voltage, 115/220V. The HTP runs on 220 single phase but pulls only 30 amps from the circuit at 200 AMPS! This alone is a great selling point for someone who may not have heavy duty service in their garage or shop. Being able to run on a standard 30A circuit allows a user to operate the machine where they ordinarily might not be able to. Your electric bill will be nicer to you at the end of the month too, especially if you're running the machine daily.

OK, so let's get to the machine itself.

HTP Invertig 201

Front View of HTP Invertig 201

The front panel is nicely laid out and with a little bit of study, very easy to adjust all the parameters. The manual is written in English and doesn't contain those translational oddities that offshore equipment usually has ("Keep from the sunshine place to not making hot" was one of my favorites).

The control panel is nicely laid out and intuitive. More complex features are easy to master and clearly explained in the manual. Machine is capable of 2T/4T operation as well as Tig Spot and Stick (MMA).

Front panel controls allow adjustment of virtually every single parameter that you could think of. From Welding Amperage, A/C Balance, Frequency, Gas Post Flow, Slope up/down (4T) and Pulse, the controls are right at your fingertips and are quickly and easily adjusted.

The quality of this machine is evident from every angle. Looking at the rear of the machine you can see that the plug for the cooler can only be described as "overkill".

HTP Cooler Plug

The Cooler Plug is as secure a connection as you are ever likely to find. Rubber gasket and camlock mechanism, you could probably hang the unit from the cooler cord plug (please don't do that, okay?)

The rear of the machine shows the three cooling fans. They run full time but are very quiet, especially compared to a transformer machine.

Cooling fans / on-off switch / gas in and cooler plug

The machine comes with everything that you need to get started except for a power plug (most companies don't provide plugs with electriclal equipment anymore. There are too many variables and there's probably some litigation reason as well, but it's fine with me because I can install the exact plug that I want and know it's going to work. You will also need consumables (Ceramic cups, tungsten, collets etc) as the torch comes with a back cap only. Speaking of the torch, here's the one that comes with the water cooled version;

Water cooled CK torch is standard equipment on the HTP Invertig 201 (water cooled version)

I was really surprised and very pleased when I opened the cartons and found the torch. I was expecting a generic torch, usable, but something that I was sure that I'd upgrade once I got the machine sorted out. Finding a CK torch (which in my opinion is probably one of the finest torches made) was a real bonus. The CK design has a much larger coolant channel in the torch head which makes for more efficient cooling and a very reduced risk of burning out the torch. HTP carries the full CK line so if you want a flex head, swivel head, or any other torch CK produces, you're in luck. You can specify what torch you want when you place your order and HTP will set up the machine that way (there may be extra cost depending on the torch you specify). Another thing I like about the CK torches is their handle is very slim which makes it more comfortable when working for extended periods.

The torch also comes with the new Ultra Flexible hoses that are light-years ahead of the torch hoses we're used to. These new hoses are extremely lightweight and flexible and really take a load off your hand and arm. You don't realize how much hose weight affects you until you spend an hour welding with these Ultra flexible hoses. The difference is THAT dramatic. The hoses are covered in a Leather / Velcro hose wrap that protcts the hoses from abrasion and dirt.This is included in the price of the unit and is a real bonus. At the end of the hoses you will find the nicest set of Dinse connectors I've ever seen. Again, I wasn't expecting to see connectors that were so robust and well made. These are literally a class ahead of anything I've worked with in the past.

The Hosewrap (left) protects the hoses (power / water in and out) from damage while the front end connections are some of the nicest Dinse Connectors that you will find anywhere. This is heavy duty and high quality.

The Foot Pedal

The HTP offers you a choice of either hand amp control, or the traditional foot pedal. I personally like using a foot pedal. It's what I learned on and it's what I am comfortable with. The standard hand Amp control (East/West) was always uncomfortable for me to use and it ALWAYS made me move the torch. I suppose there are people out there that can use an East/West control without having the torch move, but I'd bet that they are a rare few indeed. Now HTP, knowing that this is the 21st century, and having CK as their supplier for torch related accessories, offers the CK hand amp control in two configurations. One is a North/South slider which prevents that wrist movement when controlling the amperage. The other control is a very slick rotary unit which can be had in a left hand, right hand, both hand or built in to the torch handle model. Check out the CK website for more information. But I opted for the foot control and once again, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. Once again, I was wrong.

The HTP foot pedal is another bulletproof piece that fits anyone's foot. Low profile and all metal construction and USA made. Control wire has a strain relief where it enters the chassis.

If you are used to the Miller foot pedal, you may take a little time to warm up to the HTP unit. There is no heel rest, and it's not going to put your leg so high that you look like you're auditioning for a Captain Morgan commercial. What it is, is wide, low, no slip on both the foot portion and the floor portion so it won't be sliding all over the shop. It won't give your ACL a hard time and it has a long enough cable to reach anywhere you're going to be working. I like it much better than my Miller pedal and didn't even know I had a preference.

The Rotary Control

Just so you can see how far we've come, the hand controls shown below are also available from HTP. You can choose foot control or hand control, or get both so you're convered for any contingency. Creeping around a tube chassis, a hand control that doesn't move your wrist when operated can be a real timesaver.

To the Left is the rotary control (built in version) and to the right is the slider control. Available in different configurations to fit any torch. On the rotary control photo you can also see the Pyrex Cup accessory that is available for any standard torch. Big cups for titanium are also available.

The Ground

Finally, we come to the ground. On lesser machines (and on some high end machines) the ground is a ridiculous, insulting clamp that I wouldn't use to hold down foil. Almost every manufacturer offers "upgraded" ground clamps, usually at some wallet thinning price. Well, you don't need to pay extra for a ground clamp that actually grounds the work and looks as if it will continue to do so for many years to come. Take a look a the standard ground clamp that HTP supplies.

The ground cable clamp is as good as they make. Heavy braided copper strap, with heavy lugs and a solid cable connected to a hefty clamp insures good grounds and long clamp life.

Final Impressions

The HTP Invertig 201 is a heavy duty, professional unit with a solid warranty, a company that has been in business for nearly 30 years, a customer service attitude that simply cannot be surpassed by any welding company that I've ever dealt with and a solid following of users from the hobbiest to the professional race shop.

Do yourself a favor and look up the unit on the internet. You won't find anyone who owns one saying a single negative thing about the machine. That in itself was shocking to me. In a world where people take every opportunity to knock products right and left. All I ever came up with was people saying how much they enjoyed the machine, how good the customer service was, and how the Invertig 201 surpassed all their expectations. You can add me to that list. So much so that we are already planning adding a second Invertig 201 to our shop and selling off our Syncrowave 300. (A good machine, but so far outclassed by the Invertig that it's never going to be used).

Just the pulsing feature alone is worth the price of admission. If you've never welded with a pulser, you are in for a treat. A little tricky at first, using pulse to freeze the weld pool can make formerly difficult jobs a snap and deliver that beautiful cosmetic weld that is in such demand. (I'm NOT GOING TO SAY "STACK OF DIMES"...Arrgh! I said it!). Anyway, if you had trouble in the past achieving the 'look', your worries are over. Master the pulser (about 2 hours tops) and you'll be able to show off your skills to anyone. The 'ooohs and ahhhs' are priceless. In part 2, we'll show you some of the welds that the machine is capable of producing and go into more detail on the cooler unit which is a terriffic piece of gear that will also give you years of trouble free service. With twice the capacity of the nearest competitor (without having to special order), the HTP cooler is a great add on to a great machine.

Machine Specifications

Invertig 201

Input Voltage 230 volts +\- 20%

Input Amperage 30 Amps

Output Amperage 4 to 200 Amps

Max. Thickness

Steel 3/8" *More with multiple passes

Aluminum 1/4" *More with multiple passes

*Based on our experience, not supported or advertised by HTP

Duty Cycle

35% @200 Amps

60% @160 Amps

100%@ 135 Amps

No Load Voltage 65 volts

Arc Voltage 10 to 18 Volts

Complete specifications available at

http://www.usaweld.com/Invertig-201-Welders-s/27.htm

HTP Website www.usaweld.com

Phone 1-800-USA-WELD (800-872-9353)