4 brand-new multiprocess machines in 2mths!! Why? Ideas?

[Petroll75]

Hi all. Anyone got any suggestions/help?

I did read the thread 'read first before posting', and I thought it's appropriate here. I hope I got that right.

After many years with a not so great but reliable Clarke transformer type machine I treated myself to a new inverter type multi-process type.

Firstly an RTec MTS251 which lasted about 3wks. It went bang whilst MIG at 3mm settings. This was replaced by RTech. That one lasted 2wks before 'bang' again MIG at low settings. They were then out of stock so got a refund. I can't complain at all with the service I received from RTECH, despite these problems.

So, I decided to go with a Parweld XTM211 DI. This machine lasted 2wks, then, 'bang'!!
WHAT THE HELL !!! This can't be right?..
What's going on?...
I got a sparky out to look at the electrics in my small home garage/workshop. Nothing immediately obvious could be found, but I decided to have a complete new installation of Consumer Unit with SPD device and replaced old mcb's with now specified RCBo's and new dedicated commando socket for the welder. The old unit wasn't installed very well and where the meter tails were split inside the house wasn't very good.
All done, tested and certified NAPIT certificate issued. So all done by competent electrician. Also, replaced chest freezer, as I became paranoid that this could cause Voltage spikes !!....Also decided not to have anything else running whilst welding, not that I did anyways.

Parweld returns machine with report that main circuit board replaced as a blown PCB track and zener diodes had been found.
All good? Happy days?....errr no !
After 10 days of happy welding...'BANG' !!

It's now waiting to be collected and returned, AGAIN !

Me, the Sparky and the really helpful team at RTech are at a loss

Im not the most experienced, best welder in the world.....but I can weld!....I've long since got past newbie type problems with damaging the torch etc...I can wire a plug!

Any ideas? Or am I the most unlucky person in the world?

Thanks
Pete

 

[dobbslc]

Christ remind me not to lend you my tools!
Welcome to the forum though
I don't think you are unlucky I think there's something wrong with the supply.
Did your sparks test and visually check the earthing to the house?
Are you on overhead power lines with an earth rod? Maybe something is wrong here.
These inverter welders should be pretty tolerant to fluctuations in the supply but if it's way off then who knows?
How much volt drop do you get while welding?

 

[Mark 5]

Any ideas? Or am I the most unlucky person in the world?

Thanks
Pete

No I don't think you are but you are, like @dobbsic I think there is something wrong with the supply, spikes maybe.

Can't advise how to resolve but its not you, it's a supply issue.

 

[voipio]

Try watching the mains supply voltage over a period of time, to see if there are any sudden large variations. Some multimeters have a max/min function.

 

[barracuda816]

Speak to your energy supplier, they will come and install a monitor for a week then look at the results, voltage sags or spikes ect. I had this once with my voltage being too high and blowing lightbulbs every few weeks.

 

[Barking Mat]

Try watching the mains supply voltage over a period of time, to see if there are any sudden large variations. Some multimeters have a max/min function.

Yep, over twenty years ago, my mates high end stereo kept blowing.

Eventually the electricity board installed a special meter monitoring voltage every x minutes, and printing out a graph.

Think this lead to problem being resolved.

 

[Barking Mat]

Speak to your energy supplier, they will come and install a monitor for a week then look at the results, voltage sags or spikes ect. I had this once with my voltage being too high and blowing lightbulbs every few weeks.

You beat me to it.

 

[Erie Fred]

"Over here" with our split phase, a common problem is loss of the center tap neutral wire.
Used to be from corrosion (aluminum wire), now these days from Meth.

 

[Petroll75]

Christ remind me not to lend you my tools!
Welcome to the forum though
I don't think you are unlucky I think there's something wrong with the supply.
Did your sparks test and visually check the earthing to the house?
Are you on overhead power lines with an earth rod? Maybe something is wrong here.
These inverter welders should be pretty tolerant to fluctuations in the supply but if it's way off then who knows?
How much volt drop do you get while welding?

yeah thanks ...you can imagine the stick I'm getting from friends and family!
No overhead...did do an earth check and supposedly good enough. No earth spike in garage or house...standard TNS UK system, or whatever. We measured the volt drop whilst welding...it was 3v, so nothing really.
Yeah...everyone keeps telling me they should be pretty tolerant. Machine should be capable of running off a generator afterall.

 

[Petroll75]

No I don't think you are but you are, like @dobbsic I think there is something wrong with the supply, spikes maybe.

Can't advise how to resolve but its not you, it's a supply issue.

SPD now fitted in new fusebox...Still showing it's ok but if there was a spike it didn't stop it

 

[Petroll75]

Yep, over twenty years ago, my mates high end stereo kept blowing.

Eventually the electricity board installed a special meter monitoring voltage every x minutes, and printing out a graph.

Think this lead to problem being resolved.

I like this idea. I'll get on to them

 

[Petroll75]

"Over here" with our split phase, a common problem is loss of the center tap neutral wire.
Used to be from corrosion (aluminum wire), now these days from Meth.

Not much of a method problem in UK...but illegal taps are a problem for growing weed ( apparently). I have joking asked my neighbours if there 'in production' lol

 

[Migmac]

Speak to your energy supplier, they will come and install a monitor for a week then look at the results, voltage sags or spikes ect. I had this once with my voltage being too high and blowing lightbulbs every few weeks.

We had our supply monitored. Turned out to be the heated swimming pool of a local Lord causing the issue.

 

[Petroll75]

Thanks everyone.
I've been on the phone to UK PowerNetworks. I didn't hold out much hope. But actually managed to speak to someone in a UK call centre who's 'keen' to send an engineer in 48hrs...
No Lords on my street, as far as I'm aware...
But the richest person does live opposite!..
It would be funny that it turns out he's Heisenberg from 'Breaking Bad' !..
As long as I don't get whacked ! Lol
I'll let everyone know what happens.
Thanks again.

 

[Morrisman]

Try watching the mains supply voltage over a period of time, to see if there are any sudden large variations. Some multimeters have a max/min function.

When I lived in the far east I complained about my varying weld quality to a local fabrication guru. He told me to stick my voltmeter on the mains supply and take readings over the course of a few hours. Amazingly the voltage fluctuated from something like 180 to 250 volts.
I very much doubt that sort of thing would/could happen in the U.K., but you never know….

I bought surge arrestors to use on tv, washing machine, computers and fridge, after that.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I believe that intermittent neutral loss can cause voltage rise. I recall whole streets of houses in Stroud having electronics failing all at once and the power company having to pay compensation. That was a lost neutral.

 

[Petroll75]

I believe that intermittent neutral loss can cause voltage rise. I recall whole streets of houses in Stroud having electronics failing all at once and the power company having to pay compensation. That was a lost neutral.

And that would coincide with a loss of earth also?...uk system. I seriously reckon 'someone' is messing on my street!
It going to be interesting when the engineer gets here!

 

[ajlelectronics]

And that would coincide with a loss of earth also?...uk system. I seriously reckon 'someone' is messing on my street!
It going to be interesting when the engineer gets here!

Not messy celery, but there will often be a PD between Neutral and Earth anyway, depending on the earthing scheme.

 

[Erie Fred]

In my area, Meth heads stole all the copper ground wires on each pole at night....up to about 8' high, snipped them all off.

 

[DAPPH]

Make a loose cotton cover for the machine and keep it on even when you're welding .
If you have it running and are angle grinding the boards will gert hit with metallic dust and Phffft bits get shorted, over loaded & fry There is even dust ingress when you're not using the machine.
A few months ago I took the covers off and was shocked at the dust build up in the wire feed box and on the circuit boards .
A quick de dust with the old vax and a soft brush sorted it . It now as well as the loose cover also resides under a half single cotton bed sheet that gets taken off before use & I made it a rule never to use the grinders .... bench or hand for half an hour before welding or during a welding session .

3yrs ago I'd planned to make a fully enclosable box on the 15 inch dia turntable it sits on , using the air-conditioner panels and fine fibre wool or paper filings .. but life got in the way