[86GMC]

Hey all
I'm having a problem with a welder, a Lincoln IdealArc TM-330
It's a 550 volt arc welder, badges say type K1103C

Anyway, the problem is that the power cant be turned down...it has a big wheel on the front that you turn to adjust it, but it doesnt seem to work. It will turn just over a quarter turn, which doesnt seem like much to me, and it moves pretty freely.

This thing sat outside for some time before I got it, and wasnt covered.

Does anyone know what is inside of there? My guess would be some sort of variable resistor...possibly siezed due to sitting outside...any guesses?

If anybody knows what to do to fix my little problem, or has a diagram or picture or something to help me at least know whats in there, it would be a big help.

Thanks

 

[OneMoreTime]

Lincoln welding

Log into the lincoln welding site and you can give them the model and serial number and they can fix you up with the manuals and all you need to know about that machine..they are good about doing that for people..

:thumbup:

OMT

 

[Beenaway2long]

550 volts !!!! K-Rap !!! Live near a powerplant, or something? I knew they did 460 and 230, but didn't know until today that they do 575volts WOW!

 

[julmer]

575 is a pretty common industrial voltage in Canada.
I have a Thermal Dynamics welder rated for 460/575 that was built to supply that market.

 

[86GMC]

OneMoretime-I went to the lincoln site, and after much searching, found the expanded pictures I need, thanks

now I'll go and see if I can do more good than bad and try to fix it

 

[nwsparky]

Good luck with your welder but even if you can figure out what is wrong there is no easy way to get 575 volt input to run the thing. If you try to run it on your house voltage of 220 volts look out for fire and smoke. Also the 575 volt input may also be 3 phase, which again is for industry. I worked as a electrician for 20 years in a Oregon paper mill that was built over a hundred years ago and our primary power was 575. You may be better off finding a welding outfit that will give you a trade in on a good 220V single phase unit. Good luck

 

[86GMC]

its already hooked up in the shop, and I've used it....it's just stuck at too high of a setting...we have our shop in an industrial park, its actually a heavy equipment shop, I work there during the day and use it after hours for my own stuff. Pretty good deal if you ask me, not to mention I'm the only one working here most of the time, so I have free reign over the place.

 

[nwsparky]

Sweeeet deal, wish I had that kind of set up at work. At any rate many of those machines have a movable Core in the transformer to change the output voltage. Many use dual chain driven screws to raise and lower the core. May be they rusted up while sitting outside unprotected. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
SPARKY

 

[julmer]

nwsparky - notice his location is in Canada and they do things a little bit different up there. I'm told. 575 is their version of our 480.

 

[86GMC]

Well...I got around to pulling it apart, and the problem was that the threaded rod that lifts and lowers the core was seized....a little bit of Fluid Film (one of the greatest inventions ever), and work it back and forth, and it was free again.
yet to try it, but I'll wire it back in tomorrow and see what happens.
Thanks for the help

 

[454me]

That will fix it. I was going to suggest that the rod was siezed but you beat me to it.