New Maxstar 150 problems, HELP?!
Jim C Roberts
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim C Roberts" <jimnthem_AT_comcast_DOT_net>
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 2:44 PM
Subject: New Maxstar 150 problems, HELP!
> Greetings all,
>
> After more than 2 years of begging/threatening/pleading, the Boss
finally
> purchased us a new Maxstar 150 STH this past week. We are using 115V
> power connections and someone was supposed to pick up a 10 ga./50'
extension
> cord for it but I'm not sure if that has happened yet. It has been used
> over the last couple of days for both TIG and stick and seems to have been
> performing well.
>
> (SIDE Note; one of the welders said they were using 3/32" rods at about
90
> amps and were having to turn it down half way threw the rod to keep from
> burning them up. Not sure what type of rods(6011, 6013, 7018), and I am
not
> much of a stick welder, but I seem to recall someone saying the burning up
> of the rods was not a good thing. Right or Wrong?
>
> This morning, Saturday, it was taken to a plant where they say; "it TIG
> welded (SS) about an inch then quit" the blue power light just flashes.
I
> personally have 2 theories as to why it quit, but am open to any other
> options/opinions.
>
> 1) They have it plugged into too small of a drop cord and are starving
it
> for power.
>
> 2) They have it set for the wrong operation, SMAW instead of GTAW or
they
> have it set to use the remote and are trying to scratch start it.
>
> I would appreciate any and all suggestions before Monday when I will
have
> to tell the boss that our new $1500 play pretty is broke. GGGRRR!!
>
> Regards,
> Jim C Roberts
>
>
Ben Woodward
serial number.
If you're unit is pre- LF 010173M, they'll exhange it free with a new
Chinese made Maxstar if it's causing you problems. Ask for Mark
Cadillac at Miller. It could be the cord, but that's really unlikely. I
use 67 amps for 3/32" 6013-6011, 75 is right for 3/32" 7018.
That's using 5 12ft computer power strips in a row, each with a 15amp
breaker all on a 15amp brach. You can run all day at 67amps. 70+, and
it will trip a 15amp if you run it constantly. Remember, the heating of
a wire or a rod is given by the area of the circle you get when you it
in half. Pi times radius squared gives:
1/16 gives 30 amps max for 6011-6013
3/32 divided by 2=0.046875 squared=.00220 times pi=.0069 or 69amps max
1/8 divided by 2=.0625 times pi/2 =98amps max
1/4"=.125^2 times pi gives 491 amps max
These are real maximums, reduce 0-10% for 6011-13, increase 10% for
7018, 15% for 8018-9018, and 20% for 10018.
Don't use 6010 with the Maxstar unless it's you ex's new husbands car
you're fixing.
6011 is pretty.
7024 is like a stick version of mig. Not close really, but unique
enough to be compared.
Ben Woodward
gold, IMO.
Jim C Roberts
"Ben Woodward" <bendel...@benwoodward.com> wrote in message
news:1115243786....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> FYI, just kidding about the Chinese part. It's worth it's weight in
> gold, IMO.
>
Ben,
Had me scared there for a minute. <BG> My apologies for not reposting
sooner, thanks for your advice. Our local Linde rep got us another unit in
today as a replacement, the original is on its way back to Miller for
diagnosis, which I am eagerly awaiting.
Thanks again,
Jim
