What might be wrong with an AC/DC Tig producing half its max 200 amp?

[interlinkm74]

Hi,

If an AC DC tig, rated at 200amp only able to produce 97amp according to the front panel what does this indicate might be wrong internally? I know bit of a vague question given the permutations but wondered if there was something I should look at first.

Any thoughts or link welcome

Thanks

 

[piman]

Hello Interlink,

first verify the ammeter, does it seem that the machine is giving the sort of current indicated?
I would next look to see if there are any internal fuses that may have blown, signs of blown or damaged components on the circuit boards and also connections on the transformer. These are general sort of checks in the absence of a schematic or other detailed machine information?

Alec

 

[hotrodder]

What make & model is it? Is it the same in local and remote (on/off button vs foot pedal etc) settings, TIG and MMA modes etc?
Long shot but it could be as simple as machine settings, my Lincoln v205t for example... max (and min) output when using a remote can be set independantly in a 'hidden menu' and the max output it's actually capable of also varies with various other things from AC waveform and AC frequency to input voltage

 

[normspanners]

is it multi voltage and wired for 415 v but using 230 v ?

 

[Chris Stevens]

Hi,

If an AC DC tig, rated at 200amp only able to produce 97amp according to the front panel what does this indicate might be wrong internally? I know bit of a vague question given the permutations but wondered if there was something I should look at first.

Any thoughts or link welcome

Thanks

First thing to do is if it has a foot-pedal, switch to panel control and see if it gets max amps then. You would find you would get more helpful responses though if you posted details of machine and the way its set up currently.

 

[Richard.]

It wouldn't happen to be an orelikon Acdc 200 would it??

 

[ikb]

Hi,

If an AC DC tig, rated at 200amp only able to produce 97amp according to the front panel what does this indicate might be wrong internally? I know bit of a vague question given the permutations but wondered if there was something I should look at first.

Any thoughts or link welcome

Thanks

Coming from an age where amplifiers used valves and voltage full wave rectification was achieved by several means such as the bridge circuit or center tapped transformer my mind immediately springs to the idea that one side of the "bridge" or one side of the center tapped transformer is out thus providing only half the current. But I daresay it will be some clever fly poo sized electronic chip to blame or something like the music industries use of music power (Peak to Peak) instead of RMS (root mean square) although the sums are wrong. Or maybe even a difficult and confusing menu system. Plus you don't say if one or both modes are affected.

On a more practical (relevant) level these types of currents are notoriously difficult to measure. for instance clamp type current meters really are only good for clean alternating current and DC current meters require to be big and to be connected in series plus digital meters jump about all over the place so I wonder how you are arriving at these results.
ikb

 

[addjunkie]

What make & model is it? Is it the same in local and remote (on/off button vs foot pedal etc) settings, TIG and MMA modes etc?
Long shot but it could be as simple as machine settings, my Lincoln v205t for example... max (and min) output when using a remote can be set independantly in a 'hidden menu' and the max output it's actually capable of also varies with various other things from AC waveform and AC frequency to input voltage

I was caught out the other day with similar, thumb wheel on the torch. Then wrong set up on the panel.

 

[interlinkm74]

Apologies but I don't have the unit in front of me. I'll get back to you when I know a bit more about the model and specs and whether both the local and remote are affected. Thanks for thoughts so far, most helpful as always

 

[interlinkm74]

is it multi voltage and wired for 415 v but using 230 v ?

240v