Welder wont feed or arc

[sure]

Hi there,

I have a Decastar 150E welder and have only used it once. I was almost near the end of my first job using it when the torch stopped. No wire feed, and no arc at all. There is no clicking when pressing the trigger - nothing.
Is this a common easily fixable problem? Fuse, relay etc?

Any help would be good. I cannot find the manual anywhere so am flying blind.

Thanks

Stu

 

[malcolm]

Have you tried it since? It may be the thermal cut out which cuts in when the welder exceeds it's duty cycle and should cut out again after it has cooled down.

 

[sure]

Yep tried it again since - around an hour later.
The machine powers on and the fan is running etc just no action when pressing the torch trigger.

 

[sure]

I think I will get a closer look at the PCB for any damage.

Does anyone know if these welders are suppose to have a power on light on the power switch?

Thanks

Stu

 

[Jake SS]

Have you checked your gun trigger?
do you have more details
do you have a meter
can you use it

 

[sure]

Yep I have a meter.
How do I check the trigger?

 

[Jake SS]

Take the handle off and check the trigger wires, it may have 2 wires to the trigger or 1, if it has one it will short to the power cable to trigger it, if it has 2 wires it will trigger by shorting at the actual trigger.
Check that first
If nothing happens then check for continuity of trigger wire/wires back to the input, where gun attaches to the machine.

Check these things first

 

[sure]

Fixed it.

Bad contacts inside the trigger switch. It looks like there was some small "soldered" blobs on the contact arms inside the switch. These blobs at some stage have completely burned away, so the contact did not meet. I just popped open the switch and bent the contacts so they meet when trigger is pressed. Now it works fine. Will consider getting replacement torch as this one is obviously cheap and nasty. Good welder but crappy torch.