Re: (ET) Elec-Trak.Com updates - Arc Welder - band resistors - arc stability . . .

["John B Reinhard" <reinharj frontiernet net>]

I just searched the mail list archives (what a great resource !) and
confirmed my previous comment (which was probably based on the original
reading of the thread a few years ago !) , and Chris Zach's.

I have a spare set of coils from the front of a dismantled E-12 - so I 
would
REALLY like to know exactly how similar these are to what is in the welder.
It will still be great to get Bob Klein's analysis - maybe exact resistance
measurement of the resistors (would probably require 6 digit DVM, though) -
and physical - length, width, thickness.
Also, maybe pictures ?

A thread in 2002 or so talked about using the welder - and its internal
components - almost none - as Chris said.

An interesting part of the whole thread was mention of arc stability - 
maybe
it changed as batteries lost power some ?

The manual suggests NOT running the welding while charger is plugged in.
But, since most welding is in short bursts, maybe a trigger control 
(already
on my spool gun) or switch (built into a rest for a stick welder electrode
holder) could engage/disengage the charger between bursts - and keep the
batteries at peak power for every single weld.

Of course, hydrogen gas from charging might produce an explosion hazard, so
maybe I should improve the ventilation in the shop . . .

Some people in that thread mentioned arc stabilizers - reactance coils - 
but
I don't see those in the MIG type ReadyWelder or GoWelder products I found
on the net.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
To: "John B Reinhard" <reinharj frontiernet net>
Cc: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: (ET) Elec-Trak.Com updates - Arc Welder Manual - Great starter
info on Arc Welding - Still need results of Bob Klein's work


> From what I have heard it is basically a box with three band resistors,
> and an overheat clixon to shut down if the resistors get too hot. Think
> the resistors on the front of an E-12 to E-20 for examples.
>
> Not really complicated to be honest. It's basically a short that is
> modulated by the resistors.
>
> Chris
>
> > So, I can't wait to see what Bob Klein finds inside the box. ( maybe
> > just a few 200 amp rated nichrome ribbons ? )
>
>
>
>