Re: HF Arc starter / stablilizer

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Hydrogen18" <hydrogen18-at-hydrogen18-dot-com> 

I dont know too much about Tig, but open circuit for the Miller's I use in
class is 80(has a cool blue LCD on the front with all sorts of stuff on
it)volts in stick mode, with a 15-30 volt output during a welding arc, and
about 2 under a dead short. These machines have a button to switch to TIG
mode, and even though they dont have the torches and regulators hooked up,
they still act like they are ready to put out the HF and everything, and the
open circuit voltage is the same 80 volts. This means a decent 240 VAC stick
welder might be modified for TIG operation. When we open up the machine for
cleaning again, I will take a look at the TIG parts inside and see if I can
nab some pictures.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: HF Arc starter / stablilizer


 > Original poster: John Keith <jskeith-at-interaccess-dot-com>
 >
 > Hi Ben,
 >
 >     Unfortunately, 5V is a bit too low for a welder. A TIG welder's arc
 > voltage is typically around 15-20V, but you need an open-circuit voltage
of
 > 50-80V to successfully start the arc. Hydrogen18 has a page
 >
 > http://www.hydrogen18-dot-com/projectlogs/homemade_arcwelder/12_12_03.asp
 >
 > with lots of info on home-made arc welders.
 >
 >     As to your original question, the arc-starting circuit is very similar
to
 > a spark-gap Tesla coil, but with a ferrite-core xformer in place of the
 > Tesla primary/secondary. The service manuals for Lincoln or Miller welders
 > will have diagrams which should help you.
 >
 > Good luck,
 > John
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 5:45 PM
 > Subject: HF Arc starter / stablilizer
 >
 >
 >  > Original poster: Ben McMillen <spoonman534-at-yahoo-dot-com>
 >  >
 >  > Hello all,
 >  >     I recently came across a power supply rated for 5V -at- 110A (out of
an
 >  > '88 mainframe) and it looked like a good candidate for a welder supply.
I
 >  > was interested in making a TIG welder and after doing some research I
 > found
 >  > that the arc starter / stablilizer is pretty much a tesla tank curcuit
 > that
 >  > couples HF AC to the welding line to strike an arc. Has anyone tried to
 >  > build one of these or have any thoughts?
 >  >
 >  > Thanks for any help!!
 >  >
 >  > Coiling In Pittsburgh
 >  > Ben McMillen
 >  >
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >
 >


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