I've been trying to coax this rare 30 year old machine back to life but I think the transformer may have had it.
The open circuit voltages over the voltage range were all over the place, way too high, which I put down to a faulty rectifier after testing the diodes and finding two were duff.
Testing the transformer's six outputs disconnected from the rectifier gave me correct looking AC readings of 21 volts to 35 volts. However, as soon as various substitute rectifiers are added, the DC OCVs go quite crazy again, starting off at over 100 volts.
I can't see any sneaky mods performed (I had a Clarke earlier in the year, where someone had added an extra rectifier in series to the welding voltage...). I've checked the switch wiring over. Does this suggest the transformer is breaking down / shorting windings under load?
If so, I'll need to buy a Big Sealey 180/195 for spares. Or bin it!
Thanks.
The open circuit voltages over the voltage range were all over the place, way too high, which I put down to a faulty rectifier after testing the diodes and finding two were duff.
Testing the transformer's six outputs disconnected from the rectifier gave me correct looking AC readings of 21 volts to 35 volts. However, as soon as various substitute rectifiers are added, the DC OCVs go quite crazy again, starting off at over 100 volts.
I can't see any sneaky mods performed (I had a Clarke earlier in the year, where someone had added an extra rectifier in series to the welding voltage...). I've checked the switch wiring over. Does this suggest the transformer is breaking down / shorting windings under load?
If so, I'll need to buy a Big Sealey 180/195 for spares. Or bin it!
Thanks.