Need Help, welder died

S

sandrider123

Member
Alright guys so I have a lincoln electric 180hd weld-pak unit, last week I switched to fluxcore for my axle perches. I then switched back for patch panels when I switched back to shielding gas and solid steel .025 all of a sudden the arc is very unstable and cold. Had to have it cranked to the highest setting for any penetration on 16 guage.
And even then very unstable arc, so I try trouble-shooting it today and it starts rattling real bad when it was trying to weld then all of a sudden it died. Turn it on and you can hear the far, but no wire feed or shielding gas coming out of the tip. Any ideas on what I broke? Oh and the overload switch didnt trip.......
 
Check the polarity! Smaw is a different polarity from fcaw. I don't think you can completely break your machine if you do it wrong but maybe?
 
Do you have a volt meter? You’ll need to check the basic stuff first. Do you have 230vac into the machine? Does the gun trigger switch have continuity when the trigger is depressed. You can also disconnect the trigger sw inside the machine and use a jumper to connect the two leads, on the welder side. Most other tests would require pulling the covers. If you're up for it let me know and I can give you some more tests. Post up a code number if you can. It’s next to the s/n on the nameplate, 5 digit number.
 
As notes by another member. Mig gmaw on steel is dcen (dc electrode negative), flux core fcaw is dcep (dc electrode positive).
I assume that you changed the polarity selector or swaped the leads to go to flux core and you changed went back you switched back. Look for arcing on the lead sockets or selector switch.
 
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