Pp256 no tig/no plasma

[Effinay]

I'm having to retry this post as the first one didn't work, and I'm kind of, lets say "cranky". Much like the way I feel about my welder at this point in time. I recently replaced my toasted standard issue plasma torch (no great loss far as I'm concerned)with the suggested AR81. Of course I've got things to do and have been getting by with the torch and a grinder. Finally arrives and I get it set up (and yes I double checked everything), and all I get is this little POS arc and nothing more. Rechecked all the settings, made sure I had a good ground, even moved it closer to my work. Same results. Jiggled the cut/stick/tig switch a few times, reminded me of jiggling the handle on the toilet....Know what I mean? OK, let's set up the TIG torch and see what happens. Same crappy little POS arc and no welding action. Time to check under the hood! Removed the non-user friendly cover and checked the points for .030 gap (not the first time I've had to do this by the way) and found them spot on. They were also clean and parallel to one another. I've read a few other posts here that suggest operating the machine with the cover off to check for an arc across the points. Not so sure how to go about doing that. Must have to reassemble the the front panel w/o the top cover I guess. If it's not difficult enough teaching yourself to weld, should having to f##k with the equipment be part of the equation? Sorry needed to vent! Anyone that has/had the same problem got a solution? I could really use some help before I heave this thing over the wall and into the bushes.....Thanks. Oh, by the way, the stick welder kicks ###, but I NEED my plasma cutter and I'd really like to continue practicing TIG. Thanks again.

[performance]

Ok, not sure why you'd pull the front panel off. It should not be touched. It comes apart easily and all you need to by removing the rear cover and the metal cover. The front should never be removed unless it is broken. That takes about 2 minutes to remove the rear and metal panel...VERY VERY easy. And that's why we are here with tech support to help in that, but there are threads that deal with this as well so you wouldn't have had to go it alone.

As far as the arc, is it like a small spark plug arc, sort of like little lightening bolts? This is the HF. Loosen them up to .035" to . 040". AND are you using your foot pedal? What is your start amps, upslope,downslope, and end amps set at? Are you in 2T or 4T? What are your panel amps?

[Effinay]

Thanks for your speedy response, and my apologies for being cranky. I didn't think of going through the back panel, DOH! So am I to understand that there is more than one set of points that I need to deal with? To answer some of your other inquiries: I set up using the pedal, when it didn't work I went back to the switch on the torch. I tried 2T & 4T to no avail. I can't honestly remember what start/end amps were set at, nor do I recall up/downslope settings. I seem to recall making minor adjustments up and down on all of them to see if it would fire off and there was no notable change. As far as a panel amp setting, I went through a range of low to high, even swapped out different electrodes thinking there might be something wrong that. Still no change. I'm going back under the "hood" and readjust the points and I'll et back to you. Thank you again for your help

[performance]

Thanks for your speedy response, and my apologies for being cranky. I didn't think of going through the back panel, DOH! So am I to understand that there is more than one set of points that I need to deal with? To answer some of your other inquiries: I set up using the pedal, when it didn't work I went back to the switch on the torch. I tried 2T & 4T to no avail. I can't honestly remember what start/end amps were set at, nor do I recall up/downslope settings. I seem to recall making minor adjustments up and down on all of them to see if it would fire off and there was no notable change. As far as a panel amp setting, I went through a range of low to high, even swapped out different electrodes thinking there might be something wrong that. Still no change. I'm going back under the "hood" and readjust the points and I'll et back to you. Thank you again for your help

One set of points. Lower all your settings to zero with the pedal except preflow and post flow if you are on the pedal and using tig. Lower all your settings except post flow if you are using the plasma. Did you try to lift start the TIG? Scratch start the Plasma? AC or DC? Did you try both?

[Rambozo]

Maybe it would help to have a sticky for troubleshooting to give people a checklist to go through to assist tech support. Something like the following.

To help troubleshoot a problem, please provide the following information:

1. Has the operation changed, or is this the first time attempting something new?
2. Please provide all of your front panel settings, as well as gas or air settings, along with any information displayed.
3. If this is a multi-process machine please try all the other processes and report what works and what doesn't.
4. For TIG units please try with and without the foot pedal in the 2T position.
5. Please check and adjust point gap, if applicable.
6. Check operation in both AC, and DC, if applicable.
7. Check operation with lift arc or scratch start TIG, if applicable.
8. Check all cables and connectors, and be sure work clamp is attached to the work directly.
9. Check torch is assembled properly, and compare all parts to the diagram, especially o-rings and swirl rings.
10. Please check with baseline settings, ( pulse off, all controls zeroed except the following: Amps 50, AC Freq. 100, AC Bal. 35%, Postflow 5 sec, 2T, HF on, check both AC and DC) as an example.

[Effinay]

Ok, not sure why you'd pull the front panel off. It should not be touched. It comes apart easily and all you need to by removing the rear cover and the metal cover. The front should never be removed unless it is broken. That takes about 2 minutes to remove the rear and metal panel...VERY VERY easy. And that's why we are here with tech support to help in that, but there are threads that deal with this as well so you wouldn't have had to go it alone.

As far as the arc, is it like a small spark plug arc, sort of like little lightening bolts? This is the HF. Loosen them up to .035" to . 040". AND are you using your foot pedal? What is your start amps, upslope,downslope, and end amps set at? Are you in 2T or 4T? What are your panel amps?

Got the opportunity to do a little more detective work on my PP256. Here's how it went:
Removed the rear plastic end and tin cover (so much easier this way, thank you very much)
Inspected for loose connections, broken this, or burnt that... Nothing remarkable
Readjust points to .035
Torch + Ground clamp -
Panel setting @ 50 amps
Air pressure set to 40 psi -Water separator /filter at the compressor, water separator and dessicant filter at the rear of the machine
Function switch in CUT
AC/DC switch in AC
Machine switched on, pulled torch trigger, watched points. Bright momentary arc - Release the torch switch, arc again.
Placed torch on the edge of a clean, grounded piece of plate, stand-off in place, pull the trigger, NOTHING!
Remove the stand-off, torch in direct contact with the grounded plate and got an arc. Very disorganized with no cutting action. High heat was developed and there was an indication of slight damage to the torch tip and nozzle.
Discontinued any further testing as to not ruin my brand new plasma torch.

I'm going to try and set up the TIG torch and be better about settings and observations. I'll get back to ya'.

[zoama]

Got the opportunity to do a little more detective work on my PP256. Here's how it went:
Removed the rear plastic end and tin cover (so much easier this way, thank you very much)
Inspected for loose connections, broken this, or burnt that... Nothing remarkable
Readjust points to .035
Torch + Ground clamp -
Panel setting @ 50 amps
Air pressure set to 40 psi -Water separator /filter at the compressor, water separator and dessicant filter at the rear of the machine
Function switch in CUT
AC/DC switch in AC
Machine switched on, pulled torch trigger, watched points. Bright momentary arc - Release the torch switch, arc again.
Placed torch on the edge of a clean, grounded piece of plate, stand-off in place, pull the trigger, NOTHING!
Remove the stand-off, torch in direct contact with the grounded plate and got an arc. Very disorganized with no cutting action. High heat was developed and there was an indication of slight damage to the torch tip and nozzle.
Discontinued any further testing as to not ruin my brand new plasma torch.

I'm going to try and set up the TIG torch and be better about settings and observations. I'll get back to ya'.

You need more than 40psi at 50amp, set to maintain 60 with the air flowing.

[performance]

Got the opportunity to do a little more detective work on my PP256. Here's how it went:
Removed the rear plastic end and tin cover (so much easier this way, thank you very much)
Inspected for loose connections, broken this, or burnt that... Nothing remarkable
Readjust points to .035
Torch + Ground clamp -
Panel setting @ 50 amps
Air pressure set to 40 psi -Water separator /filter at the compressor, water separator and dessicant filter at the rear of the machine
Function switch in CUT
AC/DC switch in AC
Machine switched on, pulled torch trigger, watched points. Bright momentary arc - Release the torch switch, arc again.
Placed torch on the edge of a clean, grounded piece of plate, stand-off in place, pull the trigger, NOTHING!
Remove the stand-off, torch in direct contact with the grounded plate and got an arc. Very disorganized with no cutting action. High heat was developed and there was an indication of slight damage to the torch tip and nozzle.
Discontinued any further testing as to not ruin my brand new plasma torch.

I'm going to try and set up the TIG torch and be better about settings and observations. I'll get back to ya'.

I'd be cranky too if I was in the wrong polarity. Plasma cutting and TIG BOTH use the torch with it in the negative. Stick torch is always in the positive. Hope you didn't burn up your torch...which can and does happen if you are in the wrong polarity. In other words, plasma and tig use straight polarity. And Zoama was right about the psi. But the torch prefers about 70 psi to cut well at full amps (and unless you have a smaller nozzle/electrode, don't use it at too low of amps)

[everlastsupport]

Yep, TIG and plasma torch go in minus, work clamp in positive (unless stick welding and it wants DCEP). It will not weld well and electrodes burnt up pretty fast. Hope you had water running through the TIG roech.

[Rambozo]

Torch + Ground clamp -
Panel setting @ 50 amps
Air pressure set to 40 psi
Function switch in CUT
AC/DC switch in AC

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't cutting done on DC?

[everlastsupport]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't cutting done on DC?

Cutting is in DC. The unit should override that.