Getting no penetration, not enough power!?

[200T]

Hi!

I'm having a weird issue with my welder... I was welding last saturday, all was fine, used my std. setting for sheet metal.

Lvl 2 of 8, wire at 16 to 17 out of 99 (digital gauge) for but-welding, lvl 3 for plug-welding. Güde MIG190 - 200 Amps max.

However, on monday, I didn't get any penetration at all, welds were high, blobby and 'cold'. I had to use lvl 4 & 5 for welding, but even then penetration was bad and many welds turned out 'cold'... Sheet was 1mm! Unless US cars use something thicker/thinner? Was a '98 Jeep.

And also this happened some times:

I cleaned the earth clamp, I changed the contact tip, tried to play with wire speed - to no avail... I noticed that the welder was 'humming' whilst welding. And the trigger on the torch sometimes does nothing - could this be the problem? A 'trembling' trigger!? I've cleaned the trigger contacts, but nothing changed. Weather was very(!) humid that day - could this affect welding this much!? I was welding outside.

A very frustrating experience... :-/ And I'm somewhat clueless... I tried to position the earth clamp as close to the welding as possible.

Any hints? Thank you!

Regards,
Jan

 

[octo0072000]

not had a new bottle of gas have you or been given the wrong gas
just try clicking all the power switches on and off a few times redo earth clamp wire all the way back into the welder not just the clamp
try this and go from there make and model of welder and some pictures of welder might be a common welder some are rebadged etc

 

[200T]

Hi!

No, been welding on that bottle (Argon & 18% CO2) for quite a while, aboput 1/8 left. So you think it's a problem with the earth? I'll investigate...

It's a Güde, german manufacturer. Not the most high quality machines, but quite good. Not had any troubles regarding the machine itself so far.

Wire is also clean and rustfree (+ I use a skimmer on the wire)

 

[stew]

could be the voltage switch is faulty. my murex 260-1 did this recently (apparently prone for it!), and it gave this effect. i thought the transformer was nackered as it was humming like crazy, but a new switch sorted it, and its back to its usual. just a thought anyway.

 

[the snooper]

if the welder was humming and doesnt usually i would check the rectifier

 

[200T]

Ok, back in my place, the welder welds fine. Yesterday I returned to the place where I had this problem - and had it all over again... I was told they have some very old, uncommon electricy there; it's a 400V (3 phases) socket, but with one earthed negative or something like that!? Now I don't know anything about electricery, but I guess the electrics made the welder play up... They'r realy old in places, still with old style ceramic fuses, 40s or 50s standard.

But basically, I think these electrics are most probably the cause for my troubles. Does this sound plausible? Thanks!

Jan

 

[smithyboi32]

yup , it uses 1 phase to return the current and rotates so you could not be in sync so running on 2 phases .

wire it up and use a phase tester to make sure its in sync , else its a case of trial it , if not change 1 wire with another , try it etc . gota love old syle electrics lol

 

[200T]

That's that explained. Thanks! But I rather not touch any high-voltage wires, knowing my electricall skills *g*

 

[""kb]

Going off the thread title ,,, I thought someone was lacking some lead in there pencil . ,,,,