may have burned up my rectifier!

[supermanotorious]

while furiously welding the mods to my table, I was using the HF 90 amp for quick and dirty, it was actually welding fantastic and I was surprised by how well the beads came out

but then the machine started making an odd buzz, and the wire came out and didn't fully melt, it was a visual trip, I was afraid I cooked the welder but I thought maybe just the rectifier
(see HERE)
I let it cool for several days then tested it, still not fully melting the wire

I removed the rectifier and set it up ACEN and it was welding good again

I'm not upset since the rectifier was less than $20 and I'll order another, just thought I'd provide the update

 

[Bbqjoe]

while furiously welding the mods to my table, I was using the HF 90 amp for quick and dirty, it was actually welding fantastic and I was surprised by how well the beads came out

but then the machine started making an odd buzz, and the wire came out and didn't fully melt, it was a visual trip, I was afraid I cooked the welder but I thought maybe just the rectifier
(see HERE)
I let it cool for several days then tested it, still not fully melting the wire

I removed the rectifier and set it up ACEN and it was welding good again

I'm not upset since the rectifier was less than $20 and I'll order another, just thought I'd provide the update

I'm going to assume you already opened it up to let the bad smoke out?
Welders, the same as children, should not be allowed to smoke.

 

[supermanotorious]

the rectifier is a sealed unit so I haven't looked at the internals, but prob will now since you mentioned it

 

[itsid]

Just a thought...
IIRC a 90amp welders trafo peaks at 115+Amps... which is above the 100A rect you have.
(mine is nominally a 100A welder and peaks at 130amps)

So you'd either need to actively cool these rectifiers or just step up to the next size (something like a 125A rect)

I'd bet that'll solve that issue more permanently than installing the same size rectifier again.

'sid

 

[supermanotorious]

dammmit, and up goes the price


EDIT, ah- good old fashioned internet research, not so pricey after all

Link: https://amzn.com/B01G6P1RMW

 

[Jfive]

125 or 150 is what I would do for sure. I had the wire feed fail. My wire melts but doesn't feed any more.

 

[supermanotorious]

that Amazon link is for a 200amp, some reviews said they tried the 100amp and burned it up so they switched over, I just ordered it

then I got down to business on mine, tried to "chisel" it with a hammer and flat head but that resin is intense stuff! I beat the aluminum case with a hammer (and my goodness that 3/4" table didn't care) which was pretty effective at breaking up the resin

sure enough, there is a burnt connection point

 

[Bbqjoe]

I used to encapsulate electronic that went to military stuff.
That stycast is brutal.
Every now and then I'd be asked to work in the shop destroying failed units with a sledge.
By the time it all came undone, you could hardly tell what was in there.