merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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MIG welder blowing fusesmerryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Feb 18, 2021 13:20:12 GMT
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I picked up a Snap On Pro MIG 160 a couple of years ago and have recently been trying to get it set up. It’s the old box style and is a Cebora rebadge.
It was blowing 13 amp fuses every few seconds so I’ve fitted a 16 amp plug to it and now it’s infrequently tripping the breaker. Only weird thing is that it’s doing it even when I’m not welding, it did it twice while I was just testing the wire feed. I then laid a pretty decent weld at half power that was enough to melt through a 2mm x 10mm bar so it can clearly put power down at times.
Any idea on what to check first?
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Feb 18, 2021 14:30:29 GMT
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I'd check the power lead and check around inside for loose/ damaged wires and connectors first.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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MIG welder blowing fusesslater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Feb 18, 2021 16:23:33 GMT
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Well the current has to be going somewhere so you would think there is either an intermittent short to ground through somthing like a chaffing cable or possibly the transformer is toast.
Is it on an RCD or just MCB?
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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MIG welder blowing fusesmerryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Feb 18, 2021 16:50:50 GMT
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It’s on an MCB. I’ve popped the side off and there’s a fair amount of dust in there. Nothing obviously loose at a first glance.
I’m not too keen to dive in and give it a clean without really knowing what I’m doing! Obviously aside from unplugging it is there much of a risk of residual current?
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
|
MIG welder blowing fusesmerryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Feb 18, 2021 20:11:02 GMT
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I can't find a manual for this effing thing anywhere! I used the welder a bit tonight, and it happily lays down a nice long weld, so I think it's a short somewhere as I press the switch. I'll clear it out with some compressed air and have a closer look.
I'd like to upgrade to a Euro torch at some point, but I think I'll just have to take it to a specialist, I don't want to wreck it!
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You need to change the mcb for a less sensitive one. I can’t remember the terminology for them but I had to change mine in the garage for the 16A plug. I think you need to change from a type b to type c. It’s usually due to the spike in current when you start welding.
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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MIG welder blowing fusesmerryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Feb 20, 2021 22:38:28 GMT
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This was suggested over on the mig-welding.co.uk forum. They also suggested it could be the rectifier. I picked up a new 20 amp C type MCB this morning and it's working totally fine!
One thing I don't understand is how this welder, which was well used when I bought it has gone it's whole life on a 13 amp plug until it's got to me and suddenly it just doesn't work. Odd.
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Feb 21, 2021 12:33:41 GMT
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This was suggested over on the mig-welding.co.uk forum. They also suggested it could be the rectifier. I picked up a new 20 amp C type MCB this morning and it's working totally fine! One thing I don't understand is how this welder, which was well used when I bought it has gone it's whole life on a 13 amp plug until it's got to me and suddenly it just doesn't work. Odd. Voltage drop in your circuit somewhere meaning a higher current draw? |
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Feb 21, 2021 16:59:34 GMT
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One thing I don't understand is how this welder, which was well used when I bought it has gone it's whole life on a 13 amp plug until it's got to me and suddenly it just doesn't work. Odd. Perhaps it was used on an old wire fuse board which aren’t as fussy. My old 150A welder had a 13A plug but would blow the fuse in the plug quite often. In the end I put an M6 bolt in there instead (I’m not recommending this). |
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Feb 21, 2021 18:53:13 GMT
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This was suggested over on the mig-welding.co.uk forum. They also suggested it could be the rectifier. I picked up a new 20 amp C type MCB this morning and it's working totally fine! One thing I don't understand is how this welder, which was well used when I bought it has gone it's whole life on a 13 amp plug until it's got to me and suddenly it just doesn't work. Odd. It's not about the 13amp plug, it's the supply your feeding it with being man enough for the job. Much the same reason why electric ovens/hobs normally have their own separate supply despite being fitted with a 13amp plug. |
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1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp
1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon
1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered!
1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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