Advice requested...Dynasty 300dx

[LannyN]

Hello, This is my first visit to the site,and I am looking for some advice. I have a Dynasty 300dx machine with a build date of 1999. I am the second owner,the original owner was basically a hobbyist. So the machine had very little use.I have owned it for about 12 years and also used it infrequently. I don't know the actual hours on it, but it looks brand new.While it worked it worked great, I loved welding with it.
Unfortunately about a month ago, in the middle of a job, it quit. The hi frequency feature stopped and it will not even scratch start with enough power to weld. It took three weeks for my local welding repair shop to even give me a quote on repair ($1000.00) and then they told me the parts are on back order and might be in by the end of July. I couldn't wait this long,so I purchased a new Tig welder. Not a Miller. It seems to work fine and has a 3 year warranty,but is only a 200 amp machine.
My question is this, should I go ahead and have my Dynasty repaired,or is this model prone to problems? I loved it while it worked, but I am very disappointed with the slow repair

[H80N]

Lanny

here are some old threads on it

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forum/welding-discussions/34552-dynasty-300-dx-problem

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ility-problems

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forum/welding-discussions/33194-miller-dynasty-300dx

there are several more if you search "300DX"

[LannyN]

Thank you H80N, I did see some of the posts earlier. It seems that some people love the 300dx and have had no problems I guess the take away is if they work they are great, and if the break they are bad news. Are all Miller inverter based welders this way? I know the inverter based machines will never match the "anvil like" reliability of the transformer machines. But are they all a little fragile?

[H80N]

I know the inverter based machines will never match the "anvil like" reliability of the transformer machines. But are they all a little fragile?

The Dyn 300DX was a first gen design adapted from an existing machine and was saddled with the compromises inherent in being constrained to that platform...

They have learned a lot since then..... and current designs are pretty robust and reliable....

These machines go through continual development and improvement .....
just look at the manuals for the DYN 200DX....

https://www.millerwelds.com/support/manuals-and-parts

there have been 29 iterations..... Knowing that Miller is committed to continous improvement is great...

FWIW I went and invested in a DYN200DX & DYN350X Tigrunner several years ago and have not been disappointed....

[piniongear]

Thank you H80N, I did see some of the posts earlier. It seems that some people love the 300dx and have had no problems I guess the take away is if they work they are great, and if the break they are bad news. Are all Miller inverter based welders this way? I know the inverter based machines will never match the "anvil like" reliability of the transformer machines. But are they all a little fragile?

I recall reading another post you made regarding the torch hose leaking.
As to the 300DX repair question, I have to ask..... Do you need to be welding at 300 amps?
If your welding is going to be below that rating for the most part, if it were me I would not get the 300DX repaired but would rather choose to use the new 200 amp machine you bought. If you need more power in the future just make a few passes with the lower powered machine and you are good to go.

What can get expensive on the inverter machines is when a board goes bad. This can mean some major $$ to fix the problem.
Just my 2¢ of course.
pg

[AL5052]

Lanny,
Regarding reliability all I can add is my personal experience. I purchased new a Dynasty 300 and have owned it now for about 14 years and have had no problems with the machine. The wireless foot pedal battery module's plastic became brittle and I didn't appreciate Millers price for a new little plastic battery case so I bought a Wired Foot control. Other than that I have replaced the coolant in the Cool mate unit as called for and i have truly enjoyed the machine. I use it on DC as well as AC (i.e i weld steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, and cast iron). Sorry you have had some trouble but I haven't.

One major point / tip I will pass on is to protect your welder(s) from lightning strike INDUCTION currents. When I am not using my Dynasty 300 or Miller 350P I through my Disconnect switch to off, AND I unplug my ground cable from the Dynasty, and make sure the 350P's ground is off of the floor, same thing with the torch leads. I have read that lightning strikes can create enough INDUCTION current backfeed up a ground cable lying on your shop floor to fry your circuit boards.

[LannyN]

Thank you all for your input. No, I have never had to run the full 300 amps. Most of my work is on smaller parts used in my hot rods and classic cars. I did go ahead and authorize the repairs on my Dynasty and yesterday I got a call that it is ready to be picked up. It took 2 months to get it done, but it is done. I asked the tech what he did to it and he rattled off such a long list that I lost track after about the 5th item. I remember him saying capacitors, fan control,switches and much more. It cost me $1000.00,but if I have my good old Dynasty back in good health I will be happy. I have to say though, the replacement machine that I bought in the interm is working great. (not a Miller) and it has a 3 year warranty.

So at least in my little world, life is good.

[H80N]

Thank you all for your input. No, I have never had to run the full 300 amps. Most of my work is on smaller parts used in my hot rods and classic cars. I did go ahead and authorize the repairs on my Dynasty and yesterday I got a call that it is ready to be picked up. It took 2 months to get it done, but it is done. I asked the tech what he did to it and he rattled off such a long list that I lost track after about the 5th item. I remember him saying capacitors, fan control,switches and much more. It cost me $1000.00,but if I have my good old Dynasty back in good health I will be happy. I have to say though, the replacement machine that I bought in the interm is working great. (not a Miller) and it has a 3 year warranty.

So at least in my little world, life is good.

Lanny

Glad you got it fixed....

any chance of sharing some pics of your hotrod projects........................???