Plasma air supply problem

[muddydisco]

Well the plasma cutter is fine until you plug the air supply in ? Then it trips the breaker out at the fuse box at the workshop. It does'nt matter what pressure its at and make's a loud buzzing noise. Unplug air supply and turn the unit back on and its fine with no noise

The electric's at the workshop are fine it run's a 230 amp mig welder at full power without a problem.


Thanks muddydisco

 

[rtbcomp]

It won't power up until the air pressure is high enough, so plugging the airline powers it up and the trip goes.

Are we talking about an MCB (excess current) or RCD (leak to earth) trip?

 

[muddydisco]

It won't power up until the air pressure is high enough, so plugging the airline powers it up and the trip goes.

Are we talking about an MCB (excess current) or RCD (leak to earth) trip?

I'm new to plasma cutters how can i tell MCB or RCD trip

 

[brightspark]

I'm new to plasma cutters how can i tell MCB or RCD trip

an mcb is minature circuit breaker simlar to a fuse .an rcd is an earth leakage safety device which trips on earth faults

 

[muddydisco]

an mcb is minature circuit breaker simlar to a fuse .an rcd is an earth leakage safety device which trips on earth faults

Thanks but how do i know which one it is

 

[brightspark]

the mcb has one switch on it and its verry narrow either marked 16 amp 20 amp or 30 amp the earthleakage breaker is wider and has mainswitch on it and a test button probs marked 60 amp 80 amp with 30ma trip which knocks the lot off not just an individual circuit

 

[muddydisco]

It's the RCD like this one




http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EUROPA-COMPON...UK_BOI_CircuitBreakers_RL?hash=item3ca3195eaf

 

[brightspark]

thats deep sh ,.,.,t it has an eartfault on it then. would need taking apart disconect a few wires and test with an insulation tester to establish what part has broken down .leakage to earth

 

[rtbcomp]

Actually it might just be some dust or swarf found its way in, a good blow with compressed air would be my first thing to try. (Unplugged and keep fingers well clear &c &c)

 

[muddydisco]

Actually it might just be some dust or swarf found its way in, a good blow with compressed air would be my first thing to try. (Unplugged and keep fingers well clear &c &c)

I'll give that a try tomorrow

 

[muddydisco]

Just out of intrest could the torch cause this fault....

 

[the snooper]

try it on a diffent circuit if it still tripps its machine if it doesnt tripp it the rcd

 

[muddydisco]

Well took the side off today and blow it out. Fault is still there but with the side being off theres and red led on the circuit board that lights up.when air in plugged in then it trips out.
Disconnected the power from the torch and it does not trip Or have i just broke the circuit....?

 

[muddydisco]

try it on a diffent circuit if it still tripps its machine if it doesnt tripp it the rcd

Going take it work tomorrow and try it. Also going try it at my mates garage who as got the same model plasma.

 

[rtbcomp]

........Disconnected the power from the torch and it does not trip Or have i just broke the circuit....?

There is an interlock on the torch so you can't fire it up with the nozzle removed.

 

[muddydisco]

Well I plugged the machine in today over the bodyshop @ work and it did'nt trip. The resistor inside the machine was glowing which is worrying and the torch would'nt turn off

 

[brightspark]

but does the garage where u took it have the same rcd device in ?? probs not . i test with a meter not guesswork

 

[muddydisco]

but does the garage where u took it have the same rcd device in ?? probs not . i test with a meter not guesswork

No its not got a rcd it goes straight to the fuse board. Tried it at my friends garage who as got the same machine and the resistor glows on mine.

I would test it with a meter if i new what i was looking for.

I now know there's a fault with the machine

 

[brightspark]

it will be an earthfault in machine .the only way of finding out is get someone who is farmiliar with the machine and test the individual parts with a megger eg flash test leakage to earth sorry cant be of any more help

 

[muddydisco]

it will be an earthfault in machine .the only way of finding out is get someone who is farmiliar with the machine and test the individual parts with a megger eg flash test leakage to earth sorry cant be of any more help

Thats fine totally understand I know what people are like when they don't know what there messing with

I'll try ringging round again tomorrow