? for econotig owners...

[dyn88]

the service in my shop is a meager 200amp @ 208volts 3 phase. We measured it at 216 with our meter on a saturday in january this year during the summer months it seemed to drop to 207(july and august) even better is when we use the blanchard grinder in the other building(on a different service but same spec) the voltage droped to 196 under full load in my shop. This was horrible since my pheonix wont CAG at all with the low voltage input. Error screen pops up and no arc. My little migmaster 250 really gets funny if they turn that **** machine on in the middle of welding(no arc and the wire just balls up in a red birds nest). And to top it off we are not comercially zoned so the power company isnt required to up our service at their expense. They want 22,000 dollars to run 300 amps of 460 and wont gaurantee a replacement transformer within ten miles as required in comercial zoning(just in case you pop the one they install).

[Glenn Bon]

The only thing with this 200acv econotig is it requires 60amp service compared to the 230vac model which could maybe get away safely with 40 amp service. I suppose 60 would give peace of mind. I'l have to use my clamp on meter and check total draw with the step-down trans and welder together. I don't want to chance running it without the transformer. The only drawback is it's not very portable but the price I paid makes up for that.Trans is about 80-100lbs.

Glenn

[glockdoc]

I believe Japan uses 200v/50cycle and Europe either 200v or 220v as their standard residential power source.

[cruizer]

Say a building has 460 or 575 3 phase power, the likelyhood of the single phase power being 230 is very remote! The 230 transformer is quite expensive! Rather firms tend to go with the much cheaper 200, or 208 units.

That is why electronics manufacturers have different transformer links in ther respective units to gain the required power/performance in thier machines.

It boggles my mind that most single and 3 phase machines are set for the higher 230Vac voltage. Machines tend to run like crap, when the primary power is only 200Vac. But hey, I make money on these stupid complaints.

Just remember that there is **NO** true 220 power in North America. We tend to vary our power to 200 (runs between 194-205) , 208 (runs between 207-215), 230 (Sits around 235)

[aphexafx]

Yeah, ~208V is one result of one type of phase configuration in the United States (elsewhere I don't know). Delta WYE configuration produces this voltage, and I believe that the stinger phase from a Delta Delta configuration is also around this voltage. You see this in lots of old industrial parks and places where there are large motor loads and such.

[fun4now]

Askandy

how can he tell if he has a newer card or an older card that has been on the repair shelf waiting to be needed???
is there some way to tell the diferance ??? or did miller pull the old cards?

why 200V's that seems odd is 200V commin some where ?

[ASKANDY]

The new pcb will be of current design and will also give you the better low end control that the newer units enjoy.
Should be fine...have fun.

A-

[Mike W]

Interesting, I just checked the specs and they do make a 200 volt model. That is a new one for me.

[Glenn Bon]

Hello, I'm new to this form tonight and already something has caught my eye. I have just purchased a used econotig from a miller dealer in my area. It is the 200vac input model. The previous owner blew the card, miller said he was useing 230-240 volt and thats how it blew (makes sense). After getting it home I pulled the cover to blow it out and noticed the plastic on one of the wire conectors was was a little melted from flame. It puzzled me untill reading this post as it is a 1997 model one of the older cards I guess. They replaced the card with a new one. Would it be rite to assume that this newer card is improved and will not burst into flames. I got hold of a step down transformer to go from my 234volts to 217volts and to smooth out any spikes. Any ideas how I could find out if this is the improved card? I hope it is.

Thanks Glenn

[Leons2003]

3/16" is at the recomended capicity for the machine. Probably ok for small jobs, due to the duty cycle,20%, otherwise you probably will smell the unit. I over tax mine once with 5/32" 7024 stick, Duh. The max. Al. thickness I've welded is 1/8" which of course does well, finished up a small SS BBQ pit Sat., sch 10 pipe w/.25 ends, did well w/that matl. as well.
I think for a little more green there is a better mach., that is if your going to do much at this thickness w/out preheat.
Good luck
L*S

[fun4now]

3/16" is a tall order for the econo

acording to my tig calculator you need between 190-240Amps for 3/16"
you might be asking a lot of the econo tig.take your time if you try it and look to multiple passes.
good luck.

LMAO now that is funny.

[cruizer]

No real problems regarding the welding capability. The old style boards were a little quirky though. For some reason then tended to light on fire.

How does it perform on aluminum?material no thicker then 3/16? does it do well without the HF?
No i dont need a 180sd