testing electrical

[musselmark]

I have always used 100%CO2 with my 20+ year old Lincoln SP-170 MIG and it worked great. That machine is much heavier than my current 200 amp inverter based IGBT Mig. I have read online something about older machines were designed to run on CO2 and newer high end machines have an inductance control which will help when using CO2, maybe this is coming into play with my current machine, I don't know.

 

[Mysfyt]

You may be on to something. Does your new welder 'automatically' adjust speed and voltage?

 

[dstig1]

Are you sure you actually have 100% CO2? It is not unheard of to get a bad bottle - wrong gas/mix... but it is hard to test for.

 

[musselmark]

My welder does not have automatic controls, it has normal speed and heat settings, the only difference is the heat knob controls voltage in MIG mode and amperage in stick/tig mode. The big difference is the weight, much lighter than the lincoln although more powerful, I assume this means a smaller transformer. As for the gas, yes it is 100% CO2, it is a 20 lb beverage tank and I get it filled at my local fire safety shop that fills fire extinguishers.

 

[Mysfyt]

My welder does not have automatic controls, it has normal speed and heat settings, the only difference is the heat knob controls voltage in MIG mode and amperage in stick/tig mode. The big difference is the weight, much lighter than the lincoln although more powerful, I assume this means a smaller transformer. As for the gas, yes it is 100% CO2, it is a 20 lb beverage tank and I get it filled at my local fire safety shop that fills fire extinguishers.

Red flags are popping up here. There may be a difference in quality between fire extinguisher Co2 and welding Co2. I don't know. Anyone?

 

[musselmark]

This has to be 100% CO2, they fill tanks for beverage such as fountain pop, draught beer etc...as well

 

[otlski]

When you switched to your friend's tank did you use his pressure regular, gauges, and flow regulator or yours?

 

[musselmark]

No, all that stayed with their tanks. With my CO2 I tried many different flow settings with no improvement, and was definitely flowing, I could hear and smell it (CO2 feels more like a burn in your nose than a smell)

 

[musselmark]

I also just noticed that the new lincoln 210 multi process mig/stick/tig welder has a switch for 100%CO2 or C25Ar75, I wonder what this switch does

 

[BukitCase]

If the Lincoln 210 has a version of "autoset", the switch might change the voltage range since it's different between CO2 and C25 gas... Steve