1978 dialarc HF

[Raf]

Just got a nice rig with tig attachments and cooler, pump, foot pedals, argon tank, cups , and plenty of red box thoriated tungstan.
The manual is for a august 1991, effective with serial no. Hf862825
the picture on the cover has two handles on the left and different looking dial.
The unit i purchased has serial #HH091770
I am having a electrician hook up a disconnect with a fuse and hardwired to the sub panel.
Is there a way I can buy a sevice manual for my machine, or can I go by pg 7?
jumper link installation.
We are hioking up to 220 so 230 volt
thanks for any guidance.
Raf

[Meltedmetal]

At the top of this page click resources- owners manual & parts list, then search by model name as the serial #HH091770 doesn't seem to return any results but you can find the proper manual by matching the serial # range to your number and download it. Should be the right manual.---Meltedmetal

[WillieB]

I bought two years ago my first TIG machine, a Diversion 180. I wanted to weld aluminum. The new welder was a disappointment. I looked around and found a cream puff Dialarc 250 HF. It was a beast! It's old school 60 HZ sine wave power. 310 amp capacity in aluminum where the power is needed. I've welder soda cans, and 3/4" aluminum. I confess I was dying to know how modern technology behaved, and upgraded to a Dynasty 280 DX.

[Raf]

1978 dialarc hf question?

I bought two years ago my first TIG machine, a Diversion 180. I wanted to weld aluminum. The new welder was a disappointment. I looked around and found a cream puff Dialarc 250 HF. It was a beast! It's old school 60 HZ sine wave power. 310 amp capacity in aluminum where the power is needed. I've welder soda cans, and 3/4" aluminum. I confess I was dying to know how modern technology behaved, and upgraded to a Dynasty 280 DX.

Sounds like it will be a great first machine.
How is the arc differ between the dialarc and the Dynasty 280DX?
Raf

[WillieB]

Sine wave AC power dies twice a cycle or 120 times a second. It trails down to the zero current line then builds more slowly. Argon must ionize to conduct the arc. The arc re establishes well from the clean pointed tungsten, but less easily through the oxide layer that forms instantly on aluminum. This means that although Dialarcs ratio is 50% EP the cleaning property of the arc is less effective. The Dialarc is very sensitive to the cleanliness of the work & filler. The arc from sine wave is also less focused, more likely to wander. Square wave maintains the arc in a narrow cone. Variable frequency can control the width of the arc.

[Raf]

Dial arc 1978

Sine wave AC power dies twice a cycle or 120 times a second. It trails down to the zero current line then builds more slowly. Argon must ionize to conduct the arc. The arc re establishes well from the clean pointed tungsten, but less easily through the oxide layer that forms instantly on aluminum. This means that although Dialarcs ratio is 50% EP the cleaning property of the arc is less effective. The Dialarc is very sensitive to the cleanliness of the work & filler. The arc from sine wave is also less focused, more likely to wander. Square wave maintains the arc in a narrow cone. Variable frequency can control the width of the arc.

Does the dialarc have veriable frequency?
thanks,
raf

[USMCPOP]

No variable frequency. 60 Hz sine wave.

[mcostello]

I have one also. It looks like that the machine will be more capable of making better welds than I can for a few more years!

[WillieB]

It does have superimposed High frequency This is high voltage, low current high frequency. It doesn't weld. It doesn't supply enough wattage to weld. Its function is to stabilize the arc, maintain the ionization of the gas in the arc zone so the arc can more easily re establish twice a cycle.

I once confused this with welding frequency, in truth it has nothing to do with variable frequency.