Had a spot of bother recently with my APEX 200 13740 AC/DC TIG welder and was would be most grateful if any of you helpful bunch could give me some pointers.
Back in Mid-December, and I was set up to weld a piece of mild steel, 80AMPS setting, and as I pressed the pedal the machine to start it made a loud "pop" and the workshop trip switch RCD went. Flicked the switch back and now the display on the front of the welder wouldn't illuminate, despite power clearly getting to the machine as the ON/OFF switch still lit up
I left the machine with a tame electronics-savvy friend over the Christmas and New Year break, who soon discovered one of the IGBTs had blown and duly sourced and replaced all four. Got the machine back, switched it on and the display lit up!! My joy was short lived though, as when I went to weld once again it blew just as before
So presumably the blowing IGBT's are a symptom, not a cause, and some other component is the culprit. What's the next component got look at, test and/or replace? Being a cheaper brand parts spares aren't so readily available, although I imagine a majority of the components are obtainable from RS and suchlike.
When it was working it was a lovely machine indeed, it isn't even two years old yet, and has barely had much use. I really can't afford to just fork out for a new one, especially if an expensive one could break like this and I'd still be none the wiser about fixing it.
Any advice would be most welcome
4 x black IBGTs were replaced
Back in Mid-December, and I was set up to weld a piece of mild steel, 80AMPS setting, and as I pressed the pedal the machine to start it made a loud "pop" and the workshop trip switch RCD went. Flicked the switch back and now the display on the front of the welder wouldn't illuminate, despite power clearly getting to the machine as the ON/OFF switch still lit up
I left the machine with a tame electronics-savvy friend over the Christmas and New Year break, who soon discovered one of the IGBTs had blown and duly sourced and replaced all four. Got the machine back, switched it on and the display lit up!! My joy was short lived though, as when I went to weld once again it blew just as before
So presumably the blowing IGBT's are a symptom, not a cause, and some other component is the culprit. What's the next component got look at, test and/or replace? Being a cheaper brand parts spares aren't so readily available, although I imagine a majority of the components are obtainable from RS and suchlike.
When it was working it was a lovely machine indeed, it isn't even two years old yet, and has barely had much use. I really can't afford to just fork out for a new one, especially if an expensive one could break like this and I'd still be none the wiser about fixing it.
Any advice would be most welcome
4 x black IBGTs were replaced