Dialarc HF questions

[redcaddy51]

Hi,
New here, with a troubleshooting question. My old faithful dialarc HF up and quit on me today. I was tig'in some light aluminum and she just up and quit, When I push the foot pedal, the HF comes on to start, as normal but the welding current never comes on. I pulled the side cover and every thing seems to be in place, no loose wires, etc. Checked the foot pedal, rings out fine. I tapped all the relays, shook all the spade connectors and so forth. What I need now is some basic trouble shooting help
Keep in mind, I'm a machinist NOT an electrician. Thanks in advance, Paul

[H80N]

Have you tried trading out the TIG torch for another one that is known good??..........

they have been known to fail..... the HF will jump the break in the damaged power cable conductor and appear normal.... but welding current may not

[redcaddy51]

I don't have a back up torch, next?

[H80N]

I don't have a back up torch, next?

Can you stick weld with it in local mode...??

[duaneb55]

Stick OR TIG with amperage control in local (Standard) mode?

For your benefit, the amperage control and HF control are from two separate secondary power circuits of the main transformer so as such it's not puzzling that you have no amperage control but still have HF operation.

That being said, IF you don't have any amperage control from the panel in STANDARD as H80N inquired, then the bridge rectifier SR2 (use the wiring diagram to identify) would be suspect as would circuit breaker CB1 and finally the transformer 30VAC secondary output winding on wires #31 and #32.

[tarry99]

How about the Contactor? My Dialarc HF lost power and then quit welding also....Cruzier said change the contactor , I just changed that out today and back to normal...........Just saying!

[H80N]

How about the Contactor? My Dialarc HF lost power and then quit welding also....Cruzier said change the contactor , I just changed that out today and back to normal...........Just saying!

Yup... the contactor is also a good possibility.... I was just trying to eliminate the easy stuff first...

[duaneb55]

How about the Contactor? My Dialarc HF lost power and then quit welding also....Cruzier said change the contactor , I just changed that out today and back to normal...........Just saying!

Definitely but as H80N pointed out, eliminate the easy stuff first.

redcadd51 stated he's not an "electrician" so attack it by process of elimination that involves other machine functions that could indicate the general area of cause and go from there as needed.

Could be range switch contacts, magnetic amplifier windings, failed output rectifier and a host of connections but . . .

Good to hear you got yours back up and running as it should.

[redcaddy51]

Hello out there, I had a box 'o rocks meltdown. After all the help that was offered and acted on, I didn't want you guys to think I was a drive by poster. Sorry about the delay.

I gave up and hauled the old girl to the miller Authorized service center, in Sarasota. After 4 days, I was called an told that the welder was fine but the torch and cooler were broken. I enquired as to a repair estimate and was told that they don't work on peripheral's, but could probably order me new items for me to install. I asked how much all that technical advise was going to cost me, and was told: $255.00

That strikes me as an outrageous amount of money for little or no help.

If this is the kind of service a Miller Authorized Service Center provides, I think I'm done with the local service center. I'm going to pick up the machine tomorrow I don't think I have any other choice but to pay. Anybody ever had this problem?

How do I find a trouble shoot guide to work on the miller cooler?

Thanks in advance for more help. Paul in venice

[H80N]

Hello out there, I had a box 'o rocks meltdown. After all the help that was offered and acted on, I didn't want you guys to think I was a drive by poster. Sorry about the delay.

I gave up and hauled the old girl to the miller Authorized service center, in Sarasota. After 4 days, I was called an told that the welder was fine but the torch and cooler were broken. I enquired as to a repair estimate and was told that they don't work on peripheral's, but could probably order me new items for me to install. I asked how much all that technical advise was going to cost me, and was told: $255.00

That strikes me as an outrageous amount of money for little or no help.

If this is the kind of service a Miller Authorized Service Center provides, I think I'm done with the local service center. I'm going to pick up the machine tomorrow I don't think I have any other choice but to pay. Anybody ever had this problem?

How do I find a trouble shoot guide to work on the miller cooler?

Thanks in advance for more help. Paul in venice

Which model cooler do you have...??? and serial number..??

probably has a "Procon" pump.... likely with a clogged strainer

[ryanjones2150]

Well, that was the first response you got off this forum from one of the most active and respected members..."Have you tried trading out the TIG torch for another one that is known good??..........<br />
<br />
they have been known to fail..... the HF will jump the break in the damaged power cable conductor and appear normal.... but welding current may not..."<br />
<br />
Your response was...I don't have a spare torch, next?<br />
<br />
When you should've gone and begged, borrowed or bought a known good torch. So look at it like this, it's a penalty for blowing off solid advice, but it's still probably cheaper than any of those other problems that were listed. <br />
<br />
Slap an air cooled torch on there and see if she chooches.

[redcaddy51]

H80N,
I'll have the old girl back in my shop by tomorrow, noon. I'll check out the cooler first. I gave it a cursory look, before I took it to the service center, coolant looked clear, with no odor apparent. but that could certainly hide a clogged filter, broken impeller, burned pump motor, etc. I've been told that if a filter clogs it can kill the weakest point in the torch,/ tubing, for lack of cooling.This kind of trouble shooting sure ain't rocket surgery. Simple stuff first, I guess.

I'm gonna ignore the slap, above, it was made with no knowledge of my situation or adjustment for my lack of experience, and **** little respect.

Thanks, RED

[ryanjones2150]

Don't be so sensitive Red, didn't mean it as a slap. More like a friendly jab, that's all. After reading tons of questions and getting plenty of help from guys on here myself, most of the guys are all about getting your machine going. It's like a challenge in a way. I've been jabbed, don't sweat it. And you nailed it, simple stuff first.

[redcaddy51]

Ryan, I guess I just read more into the post than was ever intended. You guys have been very helpful and I sure don't want to come off like the village idiot. (I'll order up a little thicker skin, you sharpen your jabs, and we can Rodney King this thing...

I'm still pretty irritated at the level of service I encountered at the service center, so, I'll just get over it and , with the help I get here, and a grasp of basic troubleshooting, I'll get back in the game. Keep them cards and letters coming , folks

Thanks, Paul .

[ryanjones2150]

I have never had what I consider a good experience with my LWS of choice's service folks. It's not that they're mean, just not really interested in solving the problem for the small guy. Now if I wanted to spec out an automated welding lathe for an industrial application, they'd probably be great, but I'm pretty far from that. This forum fills that void for me and I am great full beyond words for the men on here. <br />
<br />
But get ready for the beat down, Paul! Just no video....