need some tech help

[SlingerFab]

Seriously hoping to reach an Everlast tech guy here on a Saturday. Went to do some A/C welding today with my 225 lx struck an arc on the aluminum and then a loud pop. Power switch clicked itself off tried to click it back but it pops right back off. I unplugged all the peripherals and still same results. Even switched it back off A/C with same results.

Any help is appreciated
Mike Bowlin

[sportbike]

I'm no expert, but loud pops usually don't "un-loud-pop" themselves.

I wouldn't plan on doing any welding this weekend.

[zeus_r6]

This is the second instance of this happening I've read about...don't think I'm going to go the green route after all

[Mr120]

This is the second instance of this happening I've read about...don't think I'm going to go the green route after all

If you are looking for a welding company without ANY failures then I don't think you'll be buying any welder at all. What ever you do, don't look into whether the make and model of the car you are driving (or TV or phone or electric drill) has had any failures. Not trying to offend you, just trying to put things into a little perspective.

[performance]

Well, Zeus, things break. It's not something that we like to happen. You'll find plenty of "Pops" on Milller's forum...same with Lincoln, Thermal Arc, ESAB. Hey even Hypertherm, is known to have it happen. It's a common issue with electronics in general. ...However with them, if it is out of warranty, it will cost over half as much as a new one to repair. Ours...just a small fraction. Our parts are serviceable, and theirs aren't. We have IGBT modules, not everyone does. We use the same name brands components that all the other companies are using, in some cases, better name brands, with most of them being based right here in the USA. Now if any electronic part fails like an IGBT or a capacitor, a POP is the sound it makes. Doesn't necessarily mean its a fatal problem. In many cases we can even send the part out to the customer if it is a plug and play item...or the customer is experienced with electronics, he can resolder it in.


Not sure how long Slingerfab has had a machine, but I'd guess somewhere around the join date...going on 2.5 years now. It's his first post.

Slinger,

This issue is something you'll need to call RAY about in tech support. His extension is 207. Or pm him here or email at techsupport@everlastwelders.com

[everlastsupport]

This is the second instance of this happening I've read about...don't think I'm going to go the green route after all

Second one out of thousands sold per year. Humm. Someone's not very good at math (averages anyway).

Like Mark said, things break. I would not bet all computers, cell phone, welders, etc. shipped out worked and there were no failures.

Let's be real...

Mike call our toll free number and try to get Ray. 877-755-9353 ext 207. He will get you squared away. Sorry for the trouble.

[zeus_r6]

Wasn't trying to get flamed, I run a business and I'm welding 7 days a week. I'm reading that people are waiting 4 months for repairs and can't go that route with machine down time

[SlingerFab]

This is the second instance of this happening I've read about...don't think I'm going to go the green route after all

Zeus you can look at this two ways 1) is yes after 2 years of service I had a failure or 2) is yes I had a failure, mechanical things fail, its a fact of life the true test is how the company stands behind their product after the failure. I would say I am off to a fantastic start, been contacted by two Everlast team members within 12 hours of posting on a Saturday.

[everlastsupport]

Wasn't trying to get flamed, I run a business and I'm welding 7 days a week. I'm reading that people are waiting 4 months for repairs and can't go that route with machine down time

If my welder was that mission critical to my operation, I think I would have a spare no matter what color. And I do.

Also, a second units can be set up and ready to run on non-standard work as well and save some time. As well, at our prices, two of ours sometimes is the price of one of the competition.

[performance]

Long Repair times can be a cause for concern for sure, but, there are several reasons possible. We have people send units in for repair, with no pre tech support, or explanation of what's wrong...even without contact information. This is common. We have an established repair process under warranty, along with an RMA process. If this isn't followed, there's not much we can do until the customer calls in looking for his machine. Another reason is that our company generates the majority of its sales through the internet. Other companies deal in store. There are horror stories everywhere with other brands.. Trust me, I talk to customers frequently with other machines that have experienced just as long repair/no repair times...but because they bought it through a dealer, rather than going on that dealers forum (if they even have one) they make the complaint face to face.

I think if you look carefully and sift through things, a lot of the repair issues are MORE common with our entry level product, with the "Super" series, which are a weaker mosfet design. These are light occasional use homeowner machines. Many people, are looking to buy the cheapest thing they can, and won't put up a couple hundred dollars more to get the professional line product. They by nature have more issues. These take longer to repair as well and are usually are the culprits of long repair times.

We have gotten behind on things seasonally as Tax time, and End of the Year, sales spike quite high, and you'll get more issues when more products go out, whether from shipping damage, customer caused issues, or honest failures. We've worked on reducing customer down time. But again, it happens with ALL brands, and units fall through the cracks from time to time...and to be sure, you are going to hear from 100 unsatisfied customers before you hear from one satisfied one.

You are welcome to come up and try some of our machines out. I live just a few miles from you. You can't fairly judge something you haven't seen or tried.

[zeus_r6]

So would you consider your 200 dx the weekend warrior machine or something production worthy? South GA heat and humidity can tax a machine that's running all day imo

[zeus_r6]

You are welcome to come up and try some of our machines out. I live just a few miles from you. You can't fairly judge something you haven't seen or tried.

How far from Lake Park?

[zoama]

So would you consider your 200 dx the weekend warrior machine or something production worthy? South GA heat and humidity can tax a machine that's running all day imo

If you plan on heavy use I would get a 250EX so you won't have to worry so much about duty cycle in the "South GA heat and humidity".

[performance]

Our 200 DX is one of our best units. The 200 DX, 225 LX and 250 EX are our top line. All have been revised for 2013 as well for heavy construction. It has a 60% duty cycle. IGBT. The 250 EX gives more amps...but not an advantage over the the 200DX on surviving Heat and Humidity.

I'm in Fitzgerald. 65 miles or so north.

[watercooler]

Our 200 DX is one of our best units. The 200 DX, 225 LX and 250 EX are our top line. All have been revised for 2013 as well for heavy construction. It has a 60% duty cycle. IGBT. The 250 EX gives more amps...but not an advantage over the the 200DX on surviving Heat and Humidity.

I'm in Fitzgerald. 65 miles or so north.

Nice to know my 200DX is still up there with the big boys and I am going on 1 year so far and no issues with my welder.Sorry to hear about your welder OP but you are in good hands and I hope your downtime is minimal.

[zeus_r6]

Nice to know my 200DX is still up there with the big boys and I am going on 1 year so far and no issues with my welder.Sorry to hear about your welder OP but you are in good hands and I hope your downtime is minimal.

Are you using it in a hobbyist setting or production?

[zeus_r6]

If you plan on heavy use I would get a 250EX so you won't have to worry so much about duty cycle in the "South GA heat and humidity".

Extreme temperatures hot or cold push the limits of a machine and it's reliability. Thanks for the recommendation. Do you run a 250? How long have you had it?

[zoama]

Extreme temperatures hot or cold push the limits of a machine and it's reliability. Thanks for the recommendation. Do you run a 250? How long have you had it?

I've had the 250ex for a few months now but I haven't had many tig projects... I mig weld mostly. I had a 256 for about two years before I sold it and bought the 250 which has double the duty cycle.
The 250ex is the workhorse of the analog line with a 100% duty cycle @ 200 amps. I'm not a professional welder... I'm just a hobby welder with lots of toys and opinions.

[zeus_r6]

How many hours have you put on it roughly?

[zoama]

How many hours have you put on it roughly?

Sad to say less than 1 on the 250ex but these machines are in quite a few welding shops getting heavy use.