Can You Run a 120V MIG Welder Off a 3000W Inverter?

Spoiler: Yes, You Can. 🔥
Powered by LiTime Battery Systems

The Experiment

I’ve always been curious—can you realistically run a 120V MIG welder off a 3000W inverter, without tripping breakers, smoking cables, or blowing fuses?

So, I decided to find out for myself. With a MIG welder in one hand and a 3000W pure sine wave inverter powered by a LiTime LiFePO₄ battery bank in the other, I hit the switch—and started welding.

Yes. It worked.

And not just in theory. This was real-world welding, off-grid, no generator, no grid connection—just battery, inverter, and sparks.

🔧 Setup Specs

  • Welder: 120V MIG welder (roughly 90–140A range)

  • Inverter: 3000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter (6000W surge rating)

  • Battery Bank:
    👉 Powered by LiTime 12V 230Ah LiFePO₄ batteries
    High-discharge, ultra-stable, perfect for high-load tasks

  • Cabling: 2 AWG copper cables, short run, crimped lugs

  • Cooling: Natural air + fan cooling for inverter and welder

✅ Why It Worked – Technical Breakdown

  1. Power Match

    • The welder peaks at around 2400 watts, and the inverter handles 3000W continuous with 6000W surge. Perfect combo.

  2. Pure Sine Wave = Stable Arc

    • MIG welders need clean voltage. A pure sine wave inverter delivers just that—no sputtering, no surging.

  3. Short Duty Cycle = Lower Average Load

    • With a 10–30% duty cycle, the welder rests more than it runs, giving the inverter breathing room.

  4. LiTime Batteries = Instant Power

    • The LiTime LiFePO₄ batteries I used supplied fast, consistent power with low internal resistance. That’s the key to surviving heavy loads without voltage sag.

  5. Right Wiring = Low Resistance

    • Short, thick cables are crucial. Long skinny wires = voltage drop = failure.

  6. Controlled Welding

    • I kept welds short, stayed within the duty cycle, and monitored temperatures. Smart welding = successful welding.

⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind

  • This setup is not for structural welding or thick plate steel.

  • Battery drain is real. Don’t expect hours of welding unless you’ve got a serious bank or solar top-up.

  • Watch your temps – both the welder and inverter need airflow.

🎥 See It in Action

Want proof? I filmed the entire experiment so you can see every spark for yourself.

👉 Watch the video on YouTube

💬 Final Thoughts

This project proves one thing loud and clear:

“With the right gear—and the right batteries—you can weld anywhere.”

Whether you're off-grid, in the field, or building a mobile workshop, this combo gives you real welding capability without a generator.

Special thanks to LiTime for powering this project. Their batteries made the whole thing possible.

🔋 Check them out here:
👉 LiTime LiFePO₄ Batteries https://ca.litime.com

📌 Want to Try This Yourself?

Drop me a comment or message if you want the full gear list, wiring diagram, or want to know how this could work in your mobile setup.

Let’s weld off-grid together.

—
Mr. MuD
www.mrmuds.com | YouTube | IG: @mr.muds