can anyone identify my single ph,murex mig welder

[monky harris]

i bought this welder and it worked, and is still working [sometimes badly]

but it has took out 3x 13amp fuses [when on a middle setting]

and has tripped an rcd twice,
it also blew a few, 1amp fuses on the small transformer,

the seller said it was a murex 200...but i cant find a 200amp model, and it looks physically big,
i think its from the mid 80's...?
single phase ,
it does not have a identification plate on it
it has 2 cooling fans
and a 13amp socket fitted at the rear, [looks original]



i dont know if this rotart power switch is original



inside ...







non original numbering.




wire and feed motor



many thanx in advance guys

 

[mike 109444]

What ever the faults I would do something about the 240 socket that has its connections open !!! Right next to a spool of uninsulated wire never mind your hands when sorting spool
Look for chafing wires or pinched or signs of wires having got hot due to poor connections. ALL WITH IT UNPLUGED COS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE BODGED.

 

[monky harris]

What ever the faults I would do something about the 240 socket that has its connections open !!! Right next to a spool of uninsulated wire never mind your hands when sorting spool
Look for chafing wires or pinched or signs of wires having got hot due to poor connections. ALL WITH IT UNPLUGED COS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE BODGED.

cheers mike

ive not been inside it yet except to change the 1 amp fuse,
its on loan at the moment so im just doing some research...

will tread carefully...which is now't new ...as im a sparky and repair appliances for a living...

i suppose your right about the skt, but it looks like it was always there as its fixed to lugs in the case ..?

 

[Robotstar5]

i suppose your right about the skt, but it looks like it was always there as its fixed to lugs in the case ..?

If it was original, it wouldn't be wired into the incoming side of the connector strip with a bit of flex.

 

[Richard.]

Very few of the old murex machines were built to run off 13amp plugs. Nearly all the single phase ones were rated 32amp and most stuff from them at 200 amps plus back then was 3phase.
I'd try it on a 32amp plug and see if you get results.
(After you've tidied up the internal wiring).

 

[monky harris]

Very few of the old murex machines were built to run off 13amp plugs. Nearly all the single phase ones were rated 32amp and most stuff from them at 200 amps plus back then was 3phase.
I'd try it on a 32amp plug and see if you get results.
(After you've tidied up the internal wiring).

nice reply...
do you think this may have been a 3ph unit and has been converted..?

 

[Richard.]

I'm not sure . It's odd as well because it looks very similar to the old transmig 230 which was 3phase but I never heard of them doing a transmig 200.

 

[Richard.]

Tradesmig 230 sorry
The transmig was a different model.
I think that's what you have got there a trades mig 230 and I think your issue is it was originally a 3phase machine maybe it can be used for single phase too but not off a 13amp plug no way.

 

[Richard.]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...q7gegH&usg=AFQjCNFDrJzcZLkOM54MlTkwHfIP2we8zA
3phase only I'm afraid for the 230.
The model below that was 160 which I don't think you have.

 

[Richard.]

Bit of info I did not know the trades mig 240 is single phase so it might be that one but it's an old tradesmig that's for sure. And they were brilliant to say the least.

 

[the snooper]

could be a 160

 

[Pete.]

Looks like you only have a 4-diode bridge where the 3-phase ones have a 6-diode bridge in the schematic.

 

[monky harris]

Wow... Nice work guys..
it does seem to be a mixture.....?

 

[monky harris]

There is a 130s for sale on eBay on the south coast,
A similar welder

Looks an ideal bit of kit.

 

[Richard.]

If yours was a 130 or 160 would it be tripping the mains on a 13amp plug? Unless there is a fault there

 

[monky harris]

you could be right richard..?

it did these welds with gassless wire and they are pretty big,
a block of steel tacked to a bit of rsj....
on a 13 amp fuse ...

its my bench anvil now ..





there not pretty but there solid ...

 

[monky harris]

i will be adding a bigger circuit to the workshop,
to see how it performs when i get it back,

 

[Richard.]

Yep do that then measure the machines max current with an amp meter then you will know which tradesmig you have.
Ill bet it's a 240 as this is a single phase machine.
Be good to find out.

 

[monky harris]

Update..
I have the murex back ...
I found the gas valve was not working,
and have fitted a new valve ..

it is now running well on mid range power ..with 0.8 wire...
It is a smooth machine to weld with..

There may well be more faults in the future...
. I will keep you posted..

 

[mike 109444]

Hope you sorted (removed) that socket