optrel playing up.....

[graffian]

I have always used one of the old fibreglass BOC masks, then[in 2003] I bought an optrel cartridge on ebay. It worked great and soon after I was given a slightly smaller shell, fits inside a wheel arch;-)
Today went to weld something together and the mask didn't get dark!
If I looked at a fluorescent the mask went dark, if it hadn't been used for a few days it wouldn't go dark immediately, it did when you stuck an arc though, it also darkens with the HF. Today it got dark when the light was at a very narrow angle, shining down on the cartridge[the cartridge is mounted upside down]. I put a new splatter shield in and it did seem to improve a bit, still not going off when you look directly at a fluorescent. It did work though.
Do they play up then die?
I see mention of batteries, not aware of it having any.
It's something like an Optrel Comfort, it has an adjuster which would be on the left lower side[would work it with your left hand] if the lens was the right way up.
Nearly forgot, are the inside polycarb clear bits meant to be replaced, looks like it's glued onto the cartridge.

 

[paulm1234]

I've had this before, and in the end decided it was flat batteries in the mask.

I'm 99% confident that all masks use the solar cells to charge the batteries, which happens when the mask is NOT in use (because the batteries need to be charged prior to the first weld, or the LCD shutter won't switch - it'll switch eventually when the immense amount of light hitting the solar cells imparts the first bit of charge to the batteries).

If I leave my cheap Sealey mask face-down for a couple of weeks without using it, I get the symptoms you describe. Leaving the mask face up by the window for a day (summer) made it all happy once again.

Paul

 

[Sparkey]

Have a looky here!
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=18880&page=3
Are the sensors clean?
As mentioned before leaving it in the sunlight will help too!

 

[graffian]

I couldn't decide where the sensors were;-) If I hold it up so it goes dark, wherever I put my paw turns it off. Dirt on the sensor was my first though, so I put a new splatter shield in front of it. Looked around and found several things about people chopping them open to replace batteries, won't do it till it stops working completely.

 

[Sparkey]

Nooo! don't chop it up!
What type of optrel cartridge is it?

 

[graffian]

Keep meaning to check what it is, it's a Solarmatic Comfort.
Hope I don't end up having to stick me hand in my pocket, can't be doing with that. Will only chop it open when it stops working complely.

 

[Sparkey]

Ah right! this is the entire mask:


Dunno...'tis a solar so normally you can't change the batteries...make sure it's nice and clean even between the clear shield and the cartridge...check all the sensors and the solar cell offcourse...

 

[graffian]

There is a little raised bit of plastic between the panels which has a couple of depressions, I think they are the sensors? It has been behind plastic all the time so shouldn't be dirty, I will take the splatter shield off and have a better look, might even break out the ultra strength reading specs;-)
It is working fine at the moment. I will get filter ready for when it dies.