Clarke 150TE confusion?

[Duker996]

Hi all,

I've been reading this site for a little while now as a guest, so when I bought my first welder yesterday I thought I better had register now!

My confusion is I have bought a mig turbo 150TE without a manual. Now I've found manuals for it online but they all show a picture of the current being controlled by a dial. The welder I have has 3 white switches marked "A-1" "2-3" and "MIN-MAX". Why is this model not shown in the manuals and how do I figure out what does what??

 

[rtbcomp]

Is this the manual?

http://www.clarkeservice.co.uk/manuals/mig_welders/migpro90_150te.pdf

I'd just read the sections about the 100E as this has the switches you describe. Page 28 in particular.

Welcome to the forum BTW

 

[Duker996]

Yes that's the same manual. I have the switches the same as the 100E but surely the settings would be different as I have the 150TE? I'm more confused why I have the switches and not the dial, any ideas??

And thanks, think this may become an obsession of mine, not the welding but the forum too!

 

[rtbcomp]

If their proof readers are as good as some of their quality control guys they could have got the machines mixed up in the manual.

The settings given in manuals tend to be ball-park figures anyway, it comes down to experience in the end.

 

[weldequip]

Did you read the little diagram screen printed above button 1??

 

[Duker996]

Did you read the little diagram screen printed above button 1??

It says "push A for positions 2-3". So would I take this as 1 is 1, then to go to 2, I press A then 2 and for 3, I press A and 3? So really there is only three settings? And the min and max should be self explanatory!

 

[shenion]

It says "push A for positions 2-3". So would I take this as 1 is 1, then to go to 2, I press A then 2 and for 3, I press A and 3? So really there is only three settings? And the min and max should be self explanatory!

Yes, 3 settings X min max.

That gives 6 settings overall.

Now, the manuals have been wrong on this. It could be:

1 - min
2 - min
3 - min
1 - max
2 - max
3 - max

or

1 - min
1 - max
2 - min
2 - max
3 - min
3 - max

You can measure it with a meter or just play with it to find out.

 

[Duker996]

Did you read the little diagram screen printed above button 1??

Thank you, I hadn't read it but as soon as I did it all started making more sense!

 

[Duker996]

Yes, 3 settings X min max.

That gives 6 settings overall.

Now, the manuals have been wrong on this. It could be:

1 - min
2 - min
3 - min
1 - max
2 - max
3 - max

or

1 - min
1 - max
2 - min
2 - max
3 - min
3 - max

You can measure it with a meter or just play with it to find out.

How would I test this with a meter? I was assuming it was

1 - min
1 - max
2 - min
2 - max
3 - min
3 - max

But that's just me assuming!!

 

[Duker996]

If their proof readers are as good as some of their quality control guys they could have got the machines mixed up in the manual.

The settings given in manuals tend to be ball-park figures anyway, it comes down to experience in the end.

Thanks for your help. I was too scared to fiddle to much but I had a better play tonight and started figuring it out a LITTLE better!

 

[keith19]

"How would I test this with a meter?"

Unhook the wire feed roller clamp so the wire doesn't feed when the trigger is pulled.
Then with a voltmeter measure the voltage between the the tip on the torch and the earth clamp, on different settings. Make sure you carefully record each one. Lowest voltage should be lowest combined setting, etc.

Just be careful you don't let the torch touch the earth clamp, or you'll be welding without wire...

 

[Duker996]

"How would I test this with a meter?"

Unhook the wire feed roller clamp so the wire doesn't feed when the trigger is pulled.
Then with a voltmeter measure the voltage between the the tip on the torch and the earth clamp, on different settings. Make sure you carefully record each one. Lowest voltage should be lowest combined setting, etc.

Just be careful you don't let the torch touch the earth clamp, or you'll be welding without wire...

Thanks. I've just been reading the tutorials bit and found out he tested this with laying down welds. He thought it was 1min, 1max, 2min, 2max etc but after testing he realized they went up like 1min, 2min, 1 max, 2max.