Do I need a foot pedal?

[DaveN]

Ok, so I'm getting the hang of it slowly, 1.5mm ally plate and a reasonable weld. The problem I'm having now, is I set the machine (Murex AC220) to 1.5 plate thickness, then as the work heats up I have to move the torch faster and faster and keep stuffing in the rod, otherwise it burns through. I then end up with a big wide bead (or a hole). If I back the power off, then it takes forever to get the pool going in the first place.

I've tried some short mitre joins as well, but I get the same problem - it takes a while to get going, then you've reached the other end and blown a hole before I get time to think.

If I need a pedal, do I have to get a specific one from Murex/Esab, or are they all the same/same connectors/logic etc?

 

[patreusch]

pedals help a lot maby try lower amps or moving torch back and forth

 

[Seano]

At the end of the day Dave if you are not going to be doing any positional tig work, then a pedal is the only way to go, expensive I know, but once you get the knack you will not look back.....

 

[Drains]

As patreusch says - get a bit of heat in the job first, on lower amps. It's something you'll have to do in positional work, even if you have a pedal (but can't get the foot to it).

But a pedal makes life a lot easier. Even when you learn to control heat input without, it still helps a lot for finishing runs without cratering.

 

[graffian]

I had a broken wire in my foot pedal and as I was doing mostly steel couldn't be arsed to fix it. I did weld ali during that time and just got used to fixed current. I eventually decided to fix the wire and now can't believe I didn't do it sooner, I find the pedal so good.

As far as I know pedals are all the same. well transformer machines. The current control is by a pot and is very simple, can't see any difficulty in making one if you wanted to try one.

 

[simon718]

As far as I know pedals are all the same. well transformer machines. The current control is by a pot and is very simple, can't see any difficulty in making one if you wanted to try one.

you are very correct graffian, the only difference is the potentiometer in the pedal, you need to get that right, have heard of sets being badly damaged by using the wrong one

 

[graffian]

you are very correct graffian, the only difference is the potentiometer in the pedal, you need to get that right, have heard of sets being badly damaged by using the wrong one

If you look at the panel pot you can see how much current the pcb is OK with. my pedal can take over twice the current of the panel pot[it's is the original] but I would stick to the same as the panel pot if I was making one.

 

[shenion]

As far as I know pedals are all the same. well transformer machines. The current control is by a pot and is very simple, can't see any difficulty in making one if you wanted to try one.

A lot of the transformer TIGs have very specific pedals, especially the older ones.

My Airco uses a 25 ohm, 150 watt rheostat. Dialarcs are more like 250 ohm, 25 watt.

Most modern electronically controlled will take 5-10k and are low power.

 

[M1CDQ]

my tig takes a foot pedal but it only turns on/off the tig and not adjust the current.
I find it easier to use the pedal when doing work on the bench as I find if i use the trigger on the torch i end up gripping the torch to hard
the one i use is similar to this one at about £40

http://www.radioworld.co.uk/~radio/catalog/heil-foot-switch-p-1601.html

or an even cheaper one
http://www.kcb.co.uk/shop2/index1.html at about £8 just search for AM5

these should work as on/off switches but not vary the current.You would probably need to change cable and plug to suit your welder

 

[weldequip]

Just be careful bodging diy pedals together on new machines, you could void the warranty
There was a fella the other year playing holy hell that his new Inverter was faulty & it had to be sent back... turns out he fitted his own foot pedal that wasn't suitable for the machine & it blew a circuit board.
weldequip

 

[DaveN]

I thjnk I'll give the pedal a try, but unfortunately it looks like I have to buy the Esab one. It seems I have some sort of can-bus system (whatever that is) so the pedal has to actually speak to the machine, much as components in cars now do. So that's another £500 gone!!

 

[Robotstar5]

It seems I have some sort of can-bus system (whatever that is)

controller area network