Help! Learning to weld

[murphy1244]

Have you used this outlet before?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I looked at the welder manual, but learned nothing. It does however, have a fan. Not sure if it has a thermostat.

Have you tried playing with the heat range selector switch?

 

[grsthegreat]

you know it might just be the quality of the picture it looks like both hot legs on one yr but maybe there are actually two wires. I just can't tell by the picture. if indeed there are 2 incoming hots and one ground wire and it hookrd to a 240 breaker, and that breaker is testing 240 against both poles, then I'm not sure what your problem is. if you're sure you're getting to 40 across both hot legs then the issue is something else. I've seen people wire 240 outlet up to both the same phase length in a panel and they get 120 against ground on both but they don't get 240 across both hot. can you take a picture inside the panel what I could see where the wires are landing

 

[dsparks1024]

I have never used this outlet before, I believe the people that owned the garage before me used it for their welder. I attached some images of the electrical panel, the welder is the bottom breaker on the left side.

Thanks for all of your suggestions

 

[grsthegreat]

i got to my main computer and rechecked the pictures. The panel is correctly done and on further look, the outlet is correct. What looked like both wires under a wirenut was actually the wires leaving conduit. The picture over my cell phone looks WAY DIFFERENT THAN BLOWING IT UP ON DESKTOP.

So, if both positive legs show 240 with tester between legs, then the issue is not with the outlet. Next test would to be removal of welder case , then plug in welder and test if theres power to either side of switch. You need to test both incoming power before switch and power after switch.

I had an old lincoln tombstone and if i recall the leads are visable behind a bakelite cover.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Nicely wired panel!

Did you try to weld on the AC setting? I know the shop gave the welder the OK, but who knows at this point. Maybe the rectifier is gone. Maybe the AC/DC switch is defective. With the welder power turned off, on the AC setting do you get any resistance reading between your welding ground and a hot welding lead? We can't assume that just because you can't hear anything, that the primary supply is at fault, although usually you can hear an unloaded transformer idling and the cabinet resonating slightly. An amprobe would be usefull at this stage, to see if you are getting any idling current going into your transformer (welder).

 

[k0ua]

I agree with the electrician (imagine that) Yes time to carefully take the cover off, and start checking for voltages inside.. Remember your 245 volts will fry you nice and crispy. But that is what I would do. This will tell you if there is a connection problem in the plug or cord with and intermittent connection perhaps. Just be careful, keep one hand in your pocket and think through each step. Unplug from the wall if you need to disassemble further or re-position your leads to measure. Also not a bad idea to have another responsible adult nearby, no kids no pets in the area.

I know, I know I am being a nanny here, but if you are not used to working with high voltage/high current circuits, better safe than sorry.

By the way the fan in those is fairly loud, You are darn sure going to hear it when you switch it on.

 

[grsthegreat]

I agree with the electrician (imagine that) Yes time to carefully take the cover off, and start checking for voltages inside.. Remember your 245 volts will fry you nice and crispy. But that is what I would do. This will tell you if there is a connection problem in the plug or cord with and intermittent connection perhaps. Just be careful, keep one hand in your pocket and think through each step. Unplug from the wall if you need to disassemble further or re-position your leads to measure. Also not a bad idea to have another responsible adult nearby, no kids no pets in the area.

I know, I know I am being a nanny here, but if you are not used to working with high voltage/high current circuits, better safe than sorry.

By the way the fan in those is fairly loud, You are darn sure going to hear it when you switch it on.

my old tombstone was REAL loud. my new unit just hums.

always do all the cover removals and expose wires while unit is unplugged. if you feel comfidant using a tester, only after all wires are exposed and no open wire can bump against another open wire is it ok to plug it in.

i dont know of any other reliable way to tell of switch is issue. ive gotten resistance showing on bad switches in the past.

then again,,,, 30 years working with open circuits is nothing for me. if your unsure of yourself, this is a DANGEROUS power setting.

 

[dsparks1024]

I've tried welding on DC+/- and AC with no luck.. I'm going to call the shop tomorrow and see what they say, I will also try to test it at a friends place to see if there is something weird with my supply.

 

[grsthegreat]

learning to weld may be the easier part

and keep an eye out for auto darkening helmet. its amazing how much weld quality increases in relation to good helmet