The Lincoln Invertec V160-T (K1845-1) is Lincoln Electric's most portable professional DC TIG and Stick welder — a 24-pound inverter that runs on any household 115 V or 230 V outlet and delivers 100% duty cycle DC TIG output. For pipe welders, alloy fabricators, maintenance professionals, and anyone who needs a precision TIG machine they can carry in one hand, the V160-T is the benchmark compact welder in Lincoln's lineup.
- 24 lbs — lightest professional-grade Lincoln TIG. At 24 lbs (10.8 kg), the V160-T is roughly half the weight of a conventional transformer-based TIG machine. Fits in a backpack or tool bag, runs off any 115 V 20-amp circuit, and can be taken to job sites, field repairs, or tight-quarters tube and pipe work where larger machines are impractical.
- 100% duty cycle at rated output on both voltages. The V160-T is rated 130 A TIG at 15.2 V, 100% duty cycle on 230 V — and 90 A TIG at 13.6 V, 100% duty cycle on 115 V. No cool-down cycles. Production TIG and pipe welding can continue uninterrupted for as long as the welder needs without thermal shutdown interrupting the workflow.
- 5–160 A DC TIG range. Wide output range covers delicate low-amperage work on thin stainless and titanium at 5–15 A all the way up to 1/4" and thicker mild steel and stainless at 130–160 A. One machine handles sheet metal precision work and structural fabrication without range limitations.
- High-frequency TIG pulsing. Built-in HF pulse function helps control the weld puddle on thin-wall tubing, reduces heat input on stainless, and lets less-experienced operators weld at a controlled pace. Pulse parameters (peak/background amperage, pulse rate) are adjustable from the front panel.
- HF arc start and Lift-Arc start included. Touchless HF ignition prevents tungsten contamination on the first strike. Lift-Arc mode provides a clean contact start without HF emission — useful in EMI-sensitive environments like aerospace maintenance facilities or around CNC equipment.
- Dual voltage — 115 V or 230 V, no tool required. A rear-panel voltage selection switch toggles between 115 V and 230 V input. No internal rewiring. Carry one machine that works on any outlet configuration at the shop or job site.
- Foot pedal and remote amperage control. Standard 6-pin Lincoln-style remote connector accepts optional foot Amptrol (K870) or torch-mounted thumb control for variable amperage during TIG. Critical for pipe welding and out-of-position work where two-handed torch manipulation is required.
- 3-year Lincoln Electric warranty on new units. Full factory warranty on the K1845-1 power source.
| SKU / Model | K1845-1 / Invertec V160-T |
| Processes | DC TIG (GTAW), DC Stick (SMAW) |
| AC/DC Capability | DC only (not AC TIG — see Square Wave 205 for AC TIG / aluminum) |
| Input Voltage | 115 V or 230 V, 1-Phase, 50/60 Hz (switch-selectable) |
| Input Current | 115 V: 20 A | 230 V: 25 A (branch circuit) |
| Output Range | 5–160 A DC |
| Rated Output (115 V) | 90 A / 13.6 V / 100% TIG | 60 A / 22.4 V / 100% Stick |
| Rated Output (230 V) | 130 A / 15.2 V / 100% TIG | 130 A / 25.2 V / 100% Stick |
| Max OCV | 48 V |
| Polarity | DC only |
| Pulse | Yes — HF TIG Pulsing (adjustable peak/background current, pulse rate) |
| Arc Start | High-Frequency Start (HF) & Lift-Arc Start |
| Foot Pedal Compatible | Yes — 6-pin Lincoln remote connector (K870 Foot Amptrol, sold separately) |
| Remote Control Connector | 6-pin Lincoln standard |
| Work Lead Connector | Dinse |
| Net Weight | 24 lbs (10.8 kg) |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 13" × 8" × 17" (330 × 203 × 432 mm) |
| Warranty | 3 Years (Lincoln Electric factory) |
| Condition | New — Lincoln Electric K-prefix (factory-new) |
- Invertec V160-T Power Source (K1845-1)
- PTA-17 TIG Torch — 12.5 ft, 1-piece
- Work Cable & Clamp — 10 ft
- Electrode Holder with cable
- Input Power Cord with plug (115 V configuration)
- Operator's manual
- Note: Foot Amptrol (K870) is not included — sold separately. Highly recommended for most TIG applications.
The V160-T's compact form factor and standard Lincoln 6-pin remote connection make it compatible with the full range of Lincoln TIG accessories:
- TIG Torches — PTA-17 air-cooled flex-neck bodies in 12.5 ft and 25 ft; PTA-26 heavy-duty bodies rated to 200 A for sustained production TIG; water-cooled WP-20 for high-amperage stainless. Flex-neck bodies are preferred for tube and pipe work — the V160-T's compact body and flex torch fit in pipe tack-up spaces where conventional machines don't reach.
- TIG Filler Rod — ER70S-2 and ER70S-6 for mild steel; ER308L, ER309L, ER316L, ER316LSi for stainless; ER80S-B2 for P11 chrome-moly pipe; ER90S-B3 for P22 chrome-moly; ERNiCr-3 (Inconel 82) for dissimilar metal pipe joints; ERTi-2 for commercially pure titanium.
- Foot Amptrol (K870) — The 25-ft, 6-pin Lincoln Foot Amptrol is the most common upgrade for V160-T pipe welders. Variable amperage via foot pedal during TIG is nearly essential for precision root passes and cap passes on code-quality pipe welds. Also available: torch-mounted thumb controls for out-of-position work.
- Argon Regulators — Single-stage CGA-580 argon flowmeters for shop use; dual-stage regulators for consistent flow in high-draw TIG operations; purge gas fittings for back-purge on stainless and titanium pipe root passes.
- TIG Consumable Kits — Gas lens kits (1/16", 3/32", 1/8") provide dramatically improved shielding coverage vs. standard collet bodies — important for stainless and titanium where oxidation on the back of the weld indicates inadequate shielding. 2% lanthanated or 2% ceriated tungsten in 1/16" and 3/32" diameters for DC TIG on steel and stainless.
The V160-T's 100% duty cycle, 5–160 A DC output, and 24-pound portability make it the go-to TIG machine for precision work in tight or remote locations:
- Pipe welding — stainless and alloy process piping. The V160-T is a widely used field pipe TIG machine. DC TIG on schedule 40 and schedule 80 stainless pipe in sizes from 1/2" to 6" is its primary professional application. 100% duty cycle sustains long bead runs on production pipe spooling. The 24-lb package fits in a pipe welder's kit bag alongside their rods, tungsten, and gas hose.
- Alloy fabrication — chrome-moly, Inconel, Hastelloy. Low-amperage DC TIG (5–50 A) provides the heat control needed for thin-wall 4130 aircraft tubing, Inconel exhaust collector fabrication, and P91 chrome-moly power piping repair where heat input must be tightly controlled to avoid carbide precipitation and heat-affected zone softening.
- Stainless steel sheet metal and food equipment. DC TIG on 16–22 gauge 304 and 316L stainless with ER308L filler produces low-spatter, low-distortion welds suitable for sanitary fittings, pharmaceutical vessels, and architectural stainless. The V160-T's 90 A @ 100% duty cycle on 115 V means it can run all day off a standard 20-amp branch circuit without tripping breakers or triggering thermal shutdown.
- Maintenance, repair, and field service. For field repair of stainless tanks, aluminum heat exchangers (DC TIG is used for chrome-moly fittings and steel base plates), and precision repair welding of machined parts, the V160-T's portability is unmatched among Lincoln's DC TIG lineup. Fits in a service van, runs off generator, and handles everything from sensor boss installations to crack repair on stainless manifolds.
- Aerospace maintenance and component repair. The V160-T's 5 A minimum output and Lift-Arc start (HF-free) address EMI restrictions common in aerospace maintenance facilities. Precision low-amperage TIG on thin titanium brackets, aluminum airframe fittings, and stainless fastener repairs requires the fine control of an inverter TIG — the V160-T provides it at a fraction of the space and weight of conventional transformer TIG machines used in aircraft MRO environments.
No — the V160-T is a DC-only TIG machine. It cannot produce the AC output required for aluminum TIG welding. For AC/DC TIG on aluminum with similar portability, see the Lincoln Square Wave 205 (K5613-1), which adds full AC TIG capability with adjustable frequency and balance in a 36-pound dual-voltage package. The V160-T excels at DC TIG applications: stainless steel, mild steel, chrome-moly, titanium, Inconel, and Hastelloy.
On 115 V, the V160-T is rated 90 A / 13.6 V / 100% duty cycle for TIG welding. This means you can weld continuously at 90 A on a 115 V, 20-amp circuit without thermal shutdown. In practice, most TIG welders operate below maximum current during manual welding, so 100% practical duty cycle is achievable on a standard household circuit for most pipe and sheet metal TIG applications.
No — the K1845-1 does not include a foot Amptrol. A foot pedal is not included in the standard package. The Lincoln K870 Foot Amptrol (25 ft, 6-pin) and K963-3 Foot Amptrol (10 ft) are compatible and available from WeldingMart. For most TIG applications — especially pipe welding, stainless sheet metal, and alloy fabrication — a foot pedal is strongly recommended for variable amperage control during the weld.
The V160-T is specifically configured for TIG welding with a built-in HF/Lift-Arc start, TIG pulse function, and standard 6-pin remote connector for foot pedal and torch controls. The V155-S is primarily a Stick (SMAW) machine without HF TIG start circuitry. For professional DC TIG work, the V160-T is the correct choice. The V155-S is a Stick-first machine that can perform scratch-start TIG but lacks the arc initiation and remote control features of the V160-T.
The V160-T has both HF start and Lift-Arc start built in — scratch-starting is not required. Lift-Arc start provides a clean, HF-free arc initiation by briefly contacting the tungsten to the workpiece, then lifting to strike the arc without HF interference. This is the preferred mode in environments where HF emission would interfere with CNC equipment, programmable controllers, or aircraft avionics. Both HF and Lift-Arc modes are selectable from the front panel.