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Author: Subject: SIP Welder problem
RazMan

posted on 14/10/06 at 11:45 AM Reply With Quote
SIP Welder problem

I've got a SIP 130 Turbo which starts welding fine from cold but after a few seconds it reduces power to such a low level it is useless.
I phoned my local welding shop and he recons it will cost £80 just to have a look at it

Are there any checks I can do (fairly good with a multimeter) to find the source of the problem?





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

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pewe

posted on 14/10/06 at 11:56 AM Reply With Quote
try www.migwelding.co.uk - forum which might have the answer or the welding centre suirbiton is where I bought mine and they are helpful. Cheers, Pewe
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RazMan

posted on 14/10/06 at 12:42 PM Reply With Quote
Pewe - that webby doesn't seem to exist





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

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Surrey Dave

posted on 14/10/06 at 12:53 PM Reply With Quote
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=661
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John Bonnett

posted on 14/10/06 at 12:59 PM Reply With Quote
Hi Raz

I had the same model and subsequently a larger Autoplus 170. Although not by a long way, the best welders you can buy, SIP technical support is really excellent. You can ring their technical department and in all probability, they will be able to diagnose the problem there and then. If a repair rather than a replacement part is needed their prices and turn-round in my experience has been very good. I don't have their telephone number to hand but could find it if you would like me to. Please send a U2U if I can help you any more.

Kind regards

John

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mark chandler

posted on 14/10/06 at 01:59 PM Reply With Quote
I suspect you still have teh piece of string earth lead, even if this is not an issue replacing with a decent lead and clamp (not that expensive) will drastically alter the stability of any budget welder.

I,ve got an old 150te welder, it started to play up, when I stripped it down this was due to corrosion on some tracks on a small PCB inside, I would also suggest you pull it apart and look for dry joints, burnt tracks etc.

Regards Mark

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froggy

posted on 14/10/06 at 05:42 PM Reply With Quote
i had a similar problem with mine which turned out to be the cable which is bolted to the neck of the torch was a bit corroded and would weld fine for a few seconds then slowly drop power until it barely made the wire glow
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RazMan

posted on 14/10/06 at 06:22 PM Reply With Quote
Froggy, that certainly sounds familiar - I will strip it down and see what's happening in there.

The earth wire does look a bit wimpy and gets quite warm after a while so probably a good move to replace it as a matter of course.
John - I found the SIP website but their phone numbers don't seem to work - all of them !

[Edited on 14-10-06 by RazMan]





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

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RazMan

posted on 14/10/06 at 06:23 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=661


Thanks for the link - this was top of their list ....

SIP
+ Points:- Very widely available so parts are never a problem. Good performance on low settings. (25amps low setting)
- Points:- Wire feed assembly is poor & gives really annoying problems with age. The Torch connection to the machine is also very vunerable to damage which can also cause ALL kinds of problems.
OVERALL: 5/10





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

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Mark Allanson

posted on 14/10/06 at 07:08 PM Reply With Quote
I'll go with the earth being a problem.

Get yourself a proper manly earth clamp (you can never beat a cheap mole grip with an M8 bolt welded to it), a heavy cable (only a few pence per metre at a welding supplier), and check the connection of the cable to the welder.

99% of all MIG problems are the quality of the earth connection





If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation

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Danozeman

posted on 15/10/06 at 09:26 AM Reply With Quote
I have the same welder and had the same problem. Where the earth cable goes through the welder casing its clamped to the brass bit. The cable had broken there and was only held on by several strands. I cut the clamp off and used a jubilee to fix it back on. Cleaned up the clamp and the cable connection there. Worked a treat till it buggered up again. I replaced the swan neck and liner and it welds now better than it did when it was new.





Dan

Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!

http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk

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wilkingj

posted on 15/10/06 at 09:41 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by froggy
i had a similar problem with mine which turned out to be the cable which is bolted to the neck of the torch was a bit corroded and would weld fine for a few seconds then slowly drop power until it barely made the wire glow

My Sip 150 did that , except it wasnt corrosion, just wiggling the torch from a lot of use did it, it frayed the braided feed to the torch, thus creating a high resistance point which then limits the current flow when it gets hot. Mine was at the Exit point of the Tin Box / Case. Same problem though.
I just stripped it down and reterminated the braid and soldered up and then supported it to stop it moving so much.

Also the Earth wire where the cable joins the lugs fray for exactly the same reason. Easy to fix, just takes a small amount of your time.






1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

Best Regards
Geoff
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