power supply spark/arcing

[CW&T]

Hi !

Our lasersaur is up and running, but we are having some problems with the power supply (we think).

Sometimes when the laser goes ON in the middle of a cutting sequence, we are noticing a spark (arc inside the power supply).  

This makes a loud clicking sound and occasionally shuts the whole system down in the middle of a cut.

This happens more often when the laser power is high (above 60%).

We think there is something wrong with the power supply, when voltage needs to step up to run the laser. Everything runs normally if we run the system with the laser off.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

The power supply is 150Watt.

The laser is 120Watt.

Thanks!

taylor + che-wei

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Sent from my super duper computer.

[David Armstrong]

yes your right it is a problem , they should not do this .

this could be due to nothing more than a leak through the high voltage insulation , due to damp atmosphere etc  , or a simple move of a wire to increase the gap , or place some insulation such as a plastic or silicon sealer around the offending arcing point , if you are confident in repairing then take a closer look with the case off , and let me know . but of course be careful due to the high voltages present in that area , use a wooden dowel or a plastic insulated rod to move components etc . never your fingers !

this is one area where safety does come first ..

 

oh the joys of older line output transformers in tv’s etc .. ( and of not being caught as an apprentice !) 

[CW&T]

ok thanks for the advice.

we'll ground it first and then take it apart and check out the insides (never with fingers).

we'll keep you posted on what we find out!

thanks

t

[CW&T]

we fixed the spark in our power supply.  we took a video while it was running and found out it was sparking on the red wire that comes from the laser right before it enters the first transformer.  When we opened the power supply, nothing looked wrong.  But we added some extra insulation and it did the trick.

spark:

extra insulation on red wire:

thanks for the help!

taylor + che-wei