Power Tig 185 Micro Question

[cbmkr]

I have had an intermittent small problem with my machine, It is very strange and does it on AC and DC , I can start an arc and weld ( mostly no longer than 2-3 minutes at a time) with no problem, but occasionally when i stop and try to start back up i have no arc or HF. If and when this happens i let back off the trigger on the torch and just lightly touch the tungsten to the weld material and back off then hit the trigger again it will start up and weld fine. I have not found anything i am doing to cause this to happen, ground is good ect. ???????

This only happens when i use the torch not the foot pedal.
Is it possibly a lose wire in the tig torch ???

[hpipro4]

check the wires going on the torch switch....had the same problem on my micro 185. one of the wire wasnt soldered on very good. now i dont have the problem. what foot pedal are you using?

[cbmkr]

It's not the torch, you can hear the gas solenoid open and close and a low buzzing sound inside the case. Had to repair a couple of clamps on a saw stop today and tried it with the pedal in about 5 times starting and stopping welding ,it did it once. If you look real close you can see a very tiny spark on the tungsten when you have to touch it to the material and pull back. This is without activating the switch on the torch. After you do that it will produce an arc when the torch switch is depressed.

[Rambozo]

It's not the torch, you can hear the gas solenoid open and close and a low buzzing sound inside the case. Had to repair a couple of clamps on a saw stop today and tried it with the pedal in about 5 times starting and stopping welding ,it did it once. If you look real close you can see a very tiny spark on the tungsten when you have to touch it to the material and pull back. This is without activating the switch on the torch. After you do that it will produce an arc when the torch switch is depressed.

Sounds like maybe there is a charge that is not bleeding off, so the HF doesn't kick in. Does this model use HF points or solid state HF? Maybe check point gap if applicable. While you are in there have a look around for anything amiss. There might be a bleed-off resistor across the output terminals that could be broken or cold solder joint or something.

[cbmkr]

These have the newer style contacts, I had posted a picture of them on the first 185 i had that was not right. I don't really want to look inside again but might have too, This machine had a piece of solder across the terminals for the gas solenoid switch, i had to remove it to stop the gas from flowing when you turned on the machine. That was a real pain I was unhooking the gas hose every time i stopped welding to stop the gas flow.
Maybe Ray or someone has a better idea of where to look for the problem. I will be more than welcome to look if someone will send me in the right direction.

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...ht=Power+Micro

[bswinn]

I'm interested in seeing how this turns out. I've noticed that I can run into the same situation at times. Trying to start the arc after welding and nothing. Just the sound of what I think is the HF contactcs buzzing away but no arc. Touch the tungsten to the metal and I can see a VERY small spark. Then I can weld away. I think I've noticed it happens mostly when I stop the arc and try to start it back up in a very small amount of time. However my machine is a PT200DX.