Sip Ideal 240 wire feed issue (click but no, cigar)

[disauda]

Hi, guys/gals

I have inherited a SIP Ideal 240 which hasn't been used for atleast 4 years, it has had about 2 rolls of 15kg wire through it ever, so there should be plenty of life still in her one would think. Manufactured 1993.

I have been sifting through the forums and tried pretty much all the suggestions to do with this problem. So, here's the situation...

flicked all the switches to ensure they were not the culprits (all is good with those), they are dial switches not push-in so I would think they would have a better contact anyway

Relay clicks when trigger pressed (have cleaned relay contacts with contact cleaner, they came up shiny, not scuffs or anything).

Pulled swan neck appart, red/white wire contacts clean and tight (although there was a blue wire which runs up the lead but dead-ends in the handle???)

Successfully ran wire feed motor on 12v battery (so thats ok).

No current detected on metre when trigger pressed and probes on where the wire feed motor is powered from.

PCB looks ok, no, blackness anywhere, no funny smells, Checked wire feed pot (1ohm 10KA) when pot was fully on, got reading of 1.5 ohms, as soon as I knocked it down the meter overloaded (set on 200 ohms). I would say pot is shagged? But wouldnt it still output something when I set the pot as high as it would go?

We do you guys reckon, is it the pot, or is there somewhere else I should be lookin?


Any helps a help.

Gordon

 

[Jake SS]

Firstly check for 80V at auxillary transformer, then if it is there check if it is at the PCB, 10 & 11, I think, just trace the wires to PCB, think there is a fuse in series with one of the connections on board.
Only do this if you feel confident in doing so.

Cheers
Jake

 

[disauda]

Hi Jake, Thanks for the reply.

I didn't feel terribly confident with going near transformers with test probes.

I've got a non contact voltage meter, it's an amprobe 30xr-a and it claims to detect as low as 70volts, so I used that.....

I got voltage at the on/off switch and to the aux transformer. No voltage detected at the plug which plugs into the pcb. (however it could be that my multimeter won't detect 80 volts??) this was with handle trigger on and also off. Jake, is this sounding like the tranny needs attention?

I forgot to mention on my original post, that I measured 27v across the earth and tip, but I suppose that tells us that the primary transformer is all good?

Gordon

 

[Jake SS]

Hi Jake, Thanks for the reply.

I didn't feel terribly confident with going near transformers with test probes.

I've got a non contact voltage meter, it's an amprobe 30xr-a and it claims to detect as low as 70volts, so I used that.....

I got voltage at the on/off switch and to the aux transformer. No voltage detected at the plug which plugs into the pcb. (however it could be that my multimeter won't detect 80 volts??) this was with handle trigger on and also off. Jake, is this sounding like the tranny needs attention?

I forgot to mention on my original post, that I measured 27v across the earth and tip, but I suppose that tells us that the primary transformer is all good?

Gordon

Be better if you take it to someone to check it out if you dont feel confident

Cheers

 

[disauda]

No worries Jake

I was hoping it would be something trivial and user serviceable, but I think a techy should have a sticky and decide what to do. Sounds like you know a thing or two about these welders, do you have any idea what a tranny might cost (ballpark)?

Are you in the game of fixing welders, ifso, could you suggest anyone to take it to in Brisbane?

Gordon

 

[Jake SS]

No worries Jake

I was hoping it would be something trivial and user serviceable, but I think a techy should have a sticky and decide what to do. Sounds like you know a thing or two about these welders, do you have any idea what a tranny might cost (ballpark)?

Are you in the game of fixing welders, ifso, could you suggest anyone to take it to in Brisbane?

Gordon

It may well be something simple but there are some tests to be done which requires "live" testing.
Try the yellow pages and ask some questions first, as in do they know the machine etc. If you want you can try and find out what they say is wrong and either post or PM me and I will tell you what I think about there diagnosis.

Cheers
Jake

 

[disauda]

So, end result, as it turns out is a dodgy fuse holder, which I have wipped out and replaced, I hate it when something that trivial holds up the show. Got it going finally and it's a sweet little machine, have run off half a spool already with no dramas.

Thanks for you assistance Jake!

 

[jamstaff106]

Hello, I have the same welder with the same problem. Where abouts was the dodgy fuse holder? Any info would be great. Thanks Jamie.