Miller Dialarc HFE problem

[weekendbodger]

Hi I just bought a Dialarc HFE through Ebay the guy said it was all ok and single phase, when I tried to fire it up the fan ran and the main contactor buzzed.I pushed the contactor in with a screwdriver and got power out of the torch. On closer investigation the machine was plumbed in using the buzz bars to 415v. when I changed it to 240v it just blows the fuse and throws the trip out. At the moment I have got it rigged up on a plug top and normal house socket and 16amp breaker.I know this is not enough to use the welder with any great amps but i did expect it to light up and run the fan . Any Ideas before I take it to be repaired.Or take it back to where I bought it.

 

[madkayaker]

What current does it need for 230v single? What type of MCB is it? I'm thinking it's just pulling to much current

 

[weekendbodger]

Hi mate just had a look and my breaker is a B32 and looking at the back of the welder It seems to draw between 116 - 70 amps 70 being for 150amp welding. The bit that confuses be is that it did something on 415 but just trips out on 240v. I thought that if I had it turned down it would hold up for a bit at least.

 

[madkayaker]

On 415v they might not have been enough juice flowing to get enough indicative reactance within the transformer

 

[weekendbodger]

I'm hoping that it's just a case of not enough juice ,If so I will beef up the supply to a socket in the garage just for my heavy stuff. It's just that it happens almost at once that makes me think I might have a short of some sort.

 

[madkayaker]

Mcb's are fast acting to disconnect faults before the house burns down. Before spending time and money on bigger supply's do you know any one with one that you can try it on?

 

[weekendbodger]

I'm going to take it to one of my customers who does rewinds and get them to fire it up on their supply, fingers crossed that's what it is but i am a professional sceptic and these welders are monster heavy so it's not as simple as it sounds.