YesWelder MP200 Vs. CT2050 - Features Compared

The YesWelder FIRSTESS MP200 and the FIRSTESS CT2050 were crowdfunded through two separate, highly-successful Kickstarter campaigns.

First, we created the YesWelder MP200, a multi-process welder with a plasma cutter. It’s designed for beginners, DIY, and many professional welding jobs.

But, thanks to your feedback, we created the YesWelder CT2050. It’s much more advanced than the MP200 and geared towards high-end, professional use. But, it does have some limitations compared to the MP200.

This article will break down all the differences between the MP200 and the CT2050 to help you decide which of these two welders is for you.

YesWelder MP200 Vs. CT2050 Quick Overview

Welding Processes

The YesWelder MP200 supports all arc welding processes, including MIG, flux-cored, stick, and TIG. However, it only supports DC TIG with a lift arc start. So, you can’t TIG weld aluminum with it because that requires AC TIG.

You can use DC TIG to weld mild steel and stainless steel. But, for maximum weld quality, it’s preferable to have a high-frequency (“HF”) TIG start, supported by the CT2050. The lift TIG offered by the MP200 works well for most jobs, especially for beginners. But, an HF arc start is crucial to avoid any tungsten that can weaken the weld.

Tig welding with MP200

Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bdy_-A6-h4&t=91s

The YesWelder CT2050 doesn’t support MIG and flux-cored welding processes. So, it’s limited compared to the MP200. Keep in mind that most beginner-level welding jobs are best completed using MIG or FCAW.

However, the YesWelder CT2050 supports advanced DC and AC TIG welding far exceeding MP200 capabilities. You can make phenomenal welds on aluminum using numerous AC TIG features we stuffed in the CT2050. Plus, your stainless steel welds will be better with DC TIG functions like pulsed DC and HF start.

Tig welding with CT2050

While the CT2050 doesn’t include MIG and FCAW, it excels in high-end TIG welding. We made sure that you have almost every option that’s available on TIG welders in general. The CT2050 supports AC and DC pulse, AC frequency, AC balance, Pulse frequency, independent settings of high and low pulse current, pulse width, pre and post-flow, and many other advanced settings to perfectly tune your welding arc.

Plasma Cutting

Both MP200 and CT2050 support a plasma cutting feature, but the YesWelder MP-200 requires an external air compressor. So, if you don’t have an air compressor or are working on-site where it’s unavailable, you won’t be able to plasma cut.

Hand plasma cutting work by MP200

Photo by @b.a.r_welding

The YesWelder CT2050 has an integrated air compressor, making it independent from shop air. However, the CT2050 also supports using an external air compressor if necessary - there is an external shop air inlet valve.

Another significant difference in favor of CT2050 is that it uses a mechanical, blowback pilot-arc start. That means that the CT2050 doesn’t create a high frequency charge through the electrode in the plasma cutting torch like the YesWelder MP200. Instead, the CT2050 uses a mechanical switch inside the torch head to form the arc.

Integrated air compressor of CT2050

The mechanical blowback starting method of the CT2050 is inherently safe for CNC and other sensitive equipment like laptops, desktop computers, and smartphones. However, the MP200’s high-frequency start can interfere with sensitive equipment and possibly damage it.

Additionally, the CT2050 has dedicated connectors for the CNC table, compatible with a CNC table ratio of 1:1. This feature makes it far more useful for precision cutting and professional-level work.

CT2050's connectors for the CNC table

Welding and Cutting Power

The CT2050 has equal maximum welding power but higher plasma cutting power than the MP200. Additionally, the CT2050 has a higher duty cycle than the MP200.

The YesWelder MP200 can weld up to 200A with 220V input and up to 160A using a 110V outlet. The CT2050 can do the same.

However, the MP200 maxes out at 40A when plasma cutting, while the CT2050 can cut at 45A, letting you cut thicker metal.

Cutting with CT2050

But, the most significant advantage of the CT2050 when it comes to power output is its low amperage output of just 5A! As a result, you can weld thin materials like a pro. The MP200 can go as low as 40A for MIG and 20A for TIG and stick, which is good enough for most welding jobs. But, if you must weld very thin metal and avoid warping and burn-through, the CT2050 has the advantage, thanks to its low minimal 5A output.

Duty Cycle

The CT2050 has a far longer duty cycle than the MP200. While the MP200 has a duty cycle higher than many competing models on the market, we decided to push the CT2050 as much as possible.

That’s why the CT2050 can plasma cut for up to 5 hours. It’s got a 100% duty cycle at 25°C (77°F) for plasma cutting and TIG welding at maximum amperage output. This machine will not stop until you get the job done.

The MP200 has a 60% duty cycle, so you can only weld/cut for up to six minutes using maximum amperage before it needs to rest for another four minutes.

50%, 75%, and 25% Duty Cycle Examples

Source from https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/pulse-width-modulation/duty-cycle

TIG Welding

We mentioned that the CT2050 can’t MIG weld like the MP200. But, it is a far more capable TIG welder.

You can weld aluminum with AC TIG and adjust the AC frequency to tailor the arc focus and bead width.

Of course, there is the AC balance setting to modify the amount of cleaning vs. penetration action when welding aluminum. The AC balance adjusts the portion of DCEP (cleaning aluminum surface oxides) and the DCEN (what penetrates the base metal). So, if your aluminum piece is freshly cleaned (mechanically), you can reduce the DCEP and amplify the DCEN for improved penetration.

Source from https://app.aws.org/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=24737

The CT2050 supports pulsed DC and AC welding modes for maximum heat input control. Pulsed welding lets you modify the bead width and heat concentration. This function enables you to set the low background current and the high primary output current and alternate between the two many times per second. The pulse frequency determines how many times the amperage switches between the low and high current withing a second.

Source from https://www.telwin.com/en/telwin-academy/saldatura/tig-welding/pulse-easy-pulse/

You can drastically lower the heat input using pulsed DC or AC TIG and prevent warping, burning through, and discoloration. This feature is very useful when welding stainless steel because you’ll lower the average heat input while keeping the necessary penetration.

Pulsed TIG welding is a challenging feature to master. So, if you are a beginner TIG welder, it may take you some trial and error. That’s why such features are usually available on more expensive equipment for experienced welders.

The CT2050 also supports a TIG foot pedal, unlike the MP200. The TIG foot control is paramount for precision TIG welding. It allows you to modify the amperage output in real time as you weld. By lowering the foot pressure on the pedal, you’ll reduce the energy input in the welded joint. As a result, it’s easier to manage heat, and prevent burn through, warping, and corrosion resistance loss of stainless steel.

Stick Welding

The MP200 and the CT2050 are both competent stick welding machines. Both support almost all stick welding electrodes, including the notorious E6010 that’s usually challenging to run with inverter-based units. But, we designed these two multi-process welders with enough power to efficiently run this challenging rod too.

Stick welding with CT2050

However, the CT-2050 has an advantage for stick welding. It includes a voltage reduction device (“VRD”), which improves your safety when stick welding by reducing the open circuit voltage (“OCV”) to safe levels. As soon as you strike an arc, the OCV will rise to the necessary levels to keep the arc going. But, when you are not welding, the OCV will drop to about 7V.

The VRD function prevents accidental operator electrocution in wet, damp, and cramped areas. Since the CT2050 is designed for professional work, we included this safety feature too.

Operation of the electric shock prevention function (typical example)

Source from https://sg.denyogroup.com/news-stories/post/do-you-need-voltage-reduction-device-for-your-welding-machine

Weight and Portability

Both welders are portable, but the MP200 is about 50% lighter than the CT2050. While the CT2050 is loaded with additional features and includes an air compressor, it is heavier than the MP200. So, unless you need the additional features provided by the CT2050, choosing the MP200 may be a better idea if you need maximum portability.

Still, there aren’t many welders on the market that can compare to the CT2050. For a machine with a 100% duty cycle, integrated air compressor, AC and DC TIG welding process with high-end functions, plasma cutting feature with a mechanical start and dedicated CNC connector, sturdy metal frame, dual-fan, dual-voltage input, VRD, power factor correction, and a digital display, the weight of 61 lbs is not bad at all.

Conclusion

The YesWelder MP200 is a great multi-process welder and a plasma cutter for most DIY jobs and welding enthusiasts who want all arc welding processes in one unit. However, it lacks advanced features like AC TIG welding and doesn’t include an air compressor. But, it still offers the best value for the money in its category on the market, in our opinion.

Mig welding with MP200

The YesWelder CT2050 is a much more advanced welder and cutter with a focus on professional AC TIG welding. It can’t MIG weld like the MP200, but it does better everything else than the MP200.

If you are a professional welder, or your DIY and hobbyist jobs require more features like pulsed DC and AC TIG, consider the CT2050 over the MP200. Additionally, if you must weld aluminum and you are undecided between these two machines, the CT2050 should be your choice because it will have you joining aluminum like a pro.