Welding issue for a newbie

Have you by any chance stuck the welding wire to the feed nozzle?

Get a pair of pliars and pull the wire off the end.

Sometimes this happens and the feed stops, but the actual feed motor is still running with the feed roller slipping on the wire.

Regards

Looking at the schematics, the thermal switch is an integral part of the transformer...but main power is switched via a relay mounted on the circuit board... The relay is activated by the switch built into the torch....

So is the switch working ok, can you here the relay operate?....

It won't hurt to take the cover off and check all the connections. Some of them tend to be pretty crude in the low end MIG welders. DAMHIKT!

Thermal switch could have degraded to the point where it's cutting out at too low a temperature. Farnell will probably have a replacement. Look for the approx 1/2" round device with two spade connectors stuck/clamped to the transformer. It's still worth checking all of the contacts. I assume it's been transported, most of the contacts will be spade connectors or nuts and bolts around bent copper/aluminium. It's surprising how intermittent they can get.

I wonder if it's anything to do with the (alleged) heatwave?

Do what we do here in the tropics and stand a desk fan next to the welder to give extra cooling.

Are you using it at max current setting? Try a lower setting and see if it makes a difference ??

Hi George, it is quite common for a simple valve in the torch opened by the trigger to allow the gas to flow. However, in your second photo, it looks as if there is a piece of silver foil under the fuse on the circuit board, if so this ought to be removed and a replacement fuse of the correct value to be put in. I had and issue with my small MIG welder which was similar to yours and mine was as simple as the transformer on the circuit board failing.

It was replaced with one that I had, but I had to mount it off the board.

I would check that out as a starter first.

Regards Nick.

Hi George, I doubt very much you will be able to fix the transformer if it has failed, all you will be able to do is replace it, but you will need to know the output voltage and current. You could try someone like **LINK** or **LINK** for a replacement that would be suitable.

Regards Nick.

Hi

I can't see a damaged transformer in your latest pictures, however there is a relay that has contacts which are showing some signs of distress and this has blackened the clear plastic case above them, normally caused by contact arcing. It may be worthwhile removing the relay case and try to clean the contacts. Contact cleaning tools are or were readily available and normally have a thin blade that has diamond dust or similar impregnated in it. Used to be used for cleaning contact breaker contacts on cars.

May improve things but there again mat do nothing but worth a try and its easy to do. Power disconnected of course.

Cheers Martin

PS

Judging by the pictures the fuse looks to have been subject to serious over current when it blew. The fuse link, copper wire, has a wide rupture gap and there is melt back of this link. It would be interesting to see if a replacement fuse suffered the same fate, if so that may be why some idiot used aluminium foil as a replacement be it a stop gap measure or not.

Edited By Martin W on 12/08/2018 19:31:39