Laser Cutter Tripping RCD

[Mitchell Pomery]

I was using the laser cutter just now and it tripped the RCD on the back of it.

I don't have the expertise (or time) to feel confident in diagnosing it today, so I have taken the key with me.
I will look into what might be the problem on Saturday, so until then the laser isn't operational.

TL;DR: Laser tripping RCD, I am holding on to the key until we work out why.

Mitch

[Mitchell Pomery]

Lewys and I looked at the laser cutter this morning to determine what was going wrong.

When we used the test button on the power suppy for the laser tube and it was unable to fire the laser but didn't trip the RCD.
Afterwards we tried using the pulse button after this we could see sparking inside the power supply and the RCD was no longer tripping.
We pulled the power supper out and it looks like it may have have had water leak in to it at some point in time.

I've ordered a replacement power supply for the laser tube but think we should probably look at replacing the water lines before installing it.

The new power supply should arrive in the next 2 weeks.

Mitch

[Lemming]

Hey guys just one to be aware of.

If the HV leads for your laser run near the water lines you can get arcing from one to the other and this will eat away at the water hose.

We had this happen in Perth and thankfully discovered it before the HV arcs ate all the way through the water lines...