Help with Spectrum 375

[pthunberg]

While using my spectrum 375 the arc goes out and will not immediately restart. This is a new machine and has maybe 30 min of arc time. It has always done this. Is this normal? I think the arc going out may be too slow a travel speed. I am cutting around a complex shaped template. The manual says the arc should immediately re-start anytime during the post flow stage. If I release the trigger and pull it again it will start about 25% of the time. Sort of random. Not too helpful. I have replaced the tip and electrode with no change. It always starts first time the trigger is pulled after the post flow. I have used a older miller plasma cutter a while back and don’t remember this problem, but I was making long cuts and did not lose the arc very often. Any help is appreciated.

Paul

[SignWave]

my guess is that there may be a problem with the switch or something down stream from it. Might need to take it in... The tip is seated properly right?

[I Bleed Blue]

While using my spectrum 375 the arc goes out and will not immediately restart. This is a new machine and has maybe 30 min of arc time. It has always done this. Is this normal? I think the arc going out may be too slow a travel speed. I am cutting around a complex shaped template. The manual says the arc should immediately re-start anytime during the post flow stage. If I release the trigger and pull it again it will start about 25% of the time. Sort of random. Not too helpful. I have replaced the tip and electrode with no change. It always starts first time the trigger is pulled after the post flow. I have used a older miller plasma cutter a while back and don’t remember this problem, but I was making long cuts and did not lose the arc very often. Any help is appreciated.

Paul

Make sure your only tighting the tip finger snug. not tight at all. also check the pressure setting on the machine for the thickness of the steel your cutting? it could be to high and blowing out the arc. Just some problems I've had.

[pthunberg]

Thanks for the help. I went looking for the problem Thursday night. Started with the input power. The cutter worked flawlessly on 120V power but had the same problem as always on 220v. Now not being an electrician and having hooked up the 220v outlet myself, I figured I must have screwed it up somehow. I took it apart and found nothing wrong. I decided to test the voltage, just to prove it was hooked up right. Instead of 220-230V my multi meter was showing 325V. No way that could be right, right? Next day I brought a meter home from work, same reading, and this time on the main panel. Called the city power people they re- tapped the transformer. Plasma cutter works like a champ now. I guess Miller really means 15% +- 230v. Maybe the light bulbs in the house will last longer now. I wonder if my bill will be less?.

Paul

[SignWave]

that is wild. 300+volts between two legs.. The electric company was over there is a flash im sure.. Any Idea how long youve been getting 165v to ground? were you really burning out bulbs?

[I Bleed Blue]

Thats insane Man I have checked mine ona regular bases because we have spikes all the time.


Hi sign.

[pthunberg]

Not sure how long it was that high. My computer has a regulating power supply and nothing else was sensitive enough to matter. We moved into this house about 2 years ago, must have always been high. It still measures 240v across both legs but the cutter works fine now. My other 220V welder is an old red tombstone stick machine. I suspect it would be happy with just about any input voltage.

Paul

[SignWave]

My favorite type of electrical problems to fix is broken neutrals... what a night mare..