Need help from a Beginner

[Camera]

Hi, I am new to this forum. The main reason I joined this forum is I need help.

I am new to MIG welding. I just bought a gas/gasless MIG welder from eBay. I understand that gasless MIG is rubbish to the pro. I have an Arc welder but it is too powerful that I cannot weld some thin metal such as wire. So I decide to go for a gasless MIG for some DIY projects.

The link of the welder I bought is here:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-185A...0570?pt=AU_Welding&hash=item417440afaa&_uhb=1

I bought a roll of 0.8mm flux gasless MIG wire and have a go. It didn't work. It works for the arc but not MIG.

1. both V and A were turned to max.
2. earth to arc socket, turn on MIG, the yellow lamp was not on. Only green light. And no arc.
3. earth to mig socket, turn on MIG, the yellow lamp was not on and only green light. Still no arc.
4. switch to MMA with earth to arc socket, the yellow lamp was not on and only green light and no arc.
5. switch to MMA with earth to MIG, the yellow lamp was not on and only green light but with arc.

It seems that there is something I missed in the process. The machine is okay.

Please help.

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum.

By the looks of it, the earth should always be connected to the top socket irrespective of the mode you're using.

The electrode holder for arc should go to the socket below the earth.

Can we have a close-up of the panel so we can tell what the various lights & controls are for.

Does it feed wire when you pull the trigger in MIG mode?

What makes you say the machine is OK?

 

[Camera]

It feeds wire perfectly. It creates arc in MMA mode so I think the machine is okay.

Can you zoom in the pictures in eBay to view the various lights and controls?

 

[rtbcomp]

Ah yes, the images further down are zoomable.

The orange light is over-temperature so that's OK not being lit.

You said
"4. switch to MMA with earth to arc socket, the yellow lamp was not on and only green light and no arc.
5. switch to MMA with earth to MIG, the yellow lamp was not on and only green light but with arc."

Then

"It creates arc in MMA mode so I think the machine is okay."

These seem to contradict one another, are you sure you've got the earth in the top socket?

What do you mean by "Earth to MIG"

 

[Wozzaaah]

I think you're getting confused as to what those sockets do.
The "earth" clamp should always be connected to the top socket no matter whether you're welding in MIG or MMA mode.
The socket below it is for an electrode holder for MMA welding.
It's a very simple machine, the control knobs are L-R, MMA amps, MIG volts, wire feed speed.
With the MMA/MIG switch set to MIG and the earth lead in the top socket you should be getting an arc.

 

[Camera]

I was told that "For MIG welding, to reverse polarity you put the earth cable into the arc socket." by the seller before I bought the machine.

So I tried both sockets anyway and the only one works when I used the upper socket and switch to MMA (of course at this mode, the wire won't feed at all).

With the MMA/MIG switch was switched to "I", it won't work no matter which socket I used. It only has arc when used the upper socket and the MMA/MIG switch was "O".

 

[octo0072000]

sounds like it's faulty then send it back
only other point i could add to wozzs post is make sure MMA amps to zero but sounds like it's faulty

if you want to weld thin wire that machine only goes down to 40amps min not so good for thin metal a gas mig with a 30amps min would be better

 

[rtbcomp]

Does the gas flow and the wire feed when you press the trigger in MIG mode?

 

[Camera]

I don't have any gas bottle to test it.

 

[MoreWellie]

as you said you want to mig using flux/gasless wire then this works best in reverse polarity to gas wire so it sounds to me like there should be a connection change inside the machine to decide which polarity the mig torch is and you would have to set this as well as the correct earth lead socket depending on gas or gasless

the mig mode should arc with the earth lead in one of the two sockets even if it is the wrong polarity for the wire being used so the only other suggestion is to ask the supplier if there is another connection that has to be changed for gas/gasless This may be by sockets or ring terminals as maybe the mig torch isn't currently connected to anything

 

[Wozzaaah]

sounds like it's faulty then send it back
only other point i could add to wozzs post is make sure MMA amps to zero but sounds like it's faulty

With the MIG/MMA switch in MIG mode the MMA amps knob probably won't be working anyway.

I agree it's likely to be a duff unit so your next step is to contact the seller.

 

[aesmith]

... the only other suggestion is to ask the supplier if there is another connection that has to be changed for gas/gasless This may be by sockets or ring terminals as maybe the mig torch isn't currently connected to anything

That's got to be worth checking. What is the process for switching polarity in this machine?

 

[Camera]

This is the reply from the seller regarding switching polarity:


For MIG welding, to reverse polarity you put the earth cable into the arc socket.


Best Regards,

Bit Deals Team

Dear bit_deals,

Can we reverse the polarity in this machine?

 

[Camera]

message from the seller regarding the switching polarity:

The unit is an inverter welder and this is how polarity is reversed on these. You do not need to change the wires inside the unit as for the old welder machines.

 

[MoreWellie]

if you have double checked all your assembly instructions particularly in respect of the mig torch then sorry to say but the unit sounds like it is faulty from new

if you haven't already messaged the supplier to say that the mig part doesn't work then it is worth doing this in case they say "oh, that will be xyz just..."

 

[Camera]

Thank you very much for all of your of your reply and help. I returned it yesterday.

 

[Camera]

I got the message from the seller:

The item you returned was received .

Please find below comments and resolution on the warranty case:

The unit was completely checked and all functions/setting of the unit were tested.

We can confirm the unit is working fine and according to manufacturer’s specifications. Also, no manufacturing fault was detected on the item.

Most likely the issues you encountered were due a setup thing or something.

Unit is 100% functional and will be posted back to you tomorrow.



So, what do you think I have done wrong?

 

[steviec_lj]

Not sure what you've done wrong, but, you need to be getting clear instruction from the seller as to how they had it set up.

 

[Camera]

The only answer I got from them was:

No worries.

May only think there might be a setting issue or something. The unit is working fine and performed exactly as it should when tested.

 

[octo0072000]

you want to ask them did they actually weld anything on the mig settings sounds to me like they didn't