Everlast competition?

[shiers69]

I just ran across a company called RTech. They have some very similar looking welders to the Everlast line. Maybe it's the UK version of Everlast http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk

[67cudafb]

There units look close but less warranty and cost extra for footpedal. With currency exchange kinda pricey but interesting.

[CGCINC]

Looks like the same platform though.... Interesting!

[performance]

As we have acknowledged here before...Other companies in different countries do use some of the same factories as we do. As we also have stated, we have contracted for exclusivity rights of manufacture in the US and Canada for most of our line...and certainly have unique products that are not shared with any other company worldwide...Just as we have acknowledged the MTS 160 and 200 are built in the same factory as the Thermal Arc 181i fabricator. Our models are unique (though it is similar in many ways) from TA's and we have been selling it here over a year longer here as well. The company mentioned above in the OP do make some of their units in the same factory, to their own specification, and performance demands. I have just completed working up a new panel, and design for the 160STH that will be due out shortly. Other companies may make a similar amp level unit in our factory, but we have our own features and performance specifications that we have for the units as well as our constant contact with the factories through, email, phone calls, video, personal visits and other media... Overall, many of the products are conceived by us and developed jointly with the factory just for our market. The PowerTig 185 is an example of this. We had this model in development just for us in 2009, and was displayed at Fabtech 11-09 well before the Miller unit released a year later of similar size. So is our 250EX. We have a the "low" amp start value on AC and DC that no other country has, even though they may achieve a similar amp output range...as well as our pulse frequency range and AC balance adjustablity. We started working with the factory above in 2008 to develop our own line of product, slowly working into the IGBT product line as you now see it. The unique "power" line was officially released in May 2009. If you were to look inside, you'd find We use much different and heavier internal components...Unique boards and electronic components. They use the same case, and similar accessories but that is pretty much where the likeness ends.

[performance]

CGCINC,
I think Platform would limit itself to same case.

[CGCINC]

CGCINC,
I think Platform would limit itself to same case.

That's what I meant...size and shape are similar.

[Jake98]

blue reminds me of a police state.

[srp]

If Everlast can choose all of its options, 10 to 90 percent ac balance should be added to all its ac machines. High frequency adjustment is nice but ac balance is way more important to me. And maybe a logarithmic potentiometer in the foot control that would allow the foot control to be pushed down 75% but only be at 50% power and the last 25% of control would control the last 50% of power. This should allow more control when using the foot control on the low end. My Miller foot control from the factory has two 20 cent resisters making it logarithmic.

[hooda]

If Everlast can choose all of its options, 10 to 90 percent ac balance should be added to all its ac machines. High frequency adjustment is nice but ac balance is way more important to me. And maybe a logarithmic potentiometer in the foot control that would allow the foot control to be pushed down 75% but only be at 50% power and the last 25% of control would control the last 50% of power. This should allow more control when using the foot control on the low end. My Miller foot control from the factory has two 20 cent resisters making it logarithmic.

Could you post some pics of the inside of the pedal? I'd like to get a look, and, if possible, "hotrod" one of my pedals to see just how well I can make it work like you described. There's another member who put a higher quality pot in his pedal with great results, the poster don't come to mind, but you could search it.

[srp]

Could you post some pics of the inside of the pedal? I'd like to get a look, and, if possible, "hotrod" one of my pedals to see just how well I can make it work like you described. There's another member who put a higher quality pot in his pedal with great results, the poster don't come to mind, but you could search it.

The pot is a Clarostat C0416339 1k 20 1019 Resistor is CM .1Z E 500V

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer004.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer003.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer005.jpg

[todmorg]

The pot is a Clarostat C0416339 1k 20 1019 Resistor is CM .1Z E 500V

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer004.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer003.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer005.jpg

Those are probably decoupling capacitors, not resistors. It's hard to tell from the photos.

[todmorg]

Did you install the capacitors?

[performance]

Srp...
We give customers a choice. More range = more money. We offer distinct features with each model. 30-70 is more than adequate. But if a customer desires, they can pay more and get more with the 10-90%...Which the 90% is all but unusable...nothing gained there.

[srp]

Srp...
We give customers a choice. More range = more money. We offer distinct features with each model. 30-70 is more than adequate. But if a customer desires, they can pay more and get more with the 10-90%...Which the 90% is all but unusable...nothing gained there.

Would going to a 10 to 50 percent ac balance make them cheaper? I know I would never set mine as high as 50%.

We are testing some premium logarithmic potentiometers on Sunday, we did not have them made, just bought some that are close to what we need that were in stock. Getting some with the right amount of rotation is a challenge. I will post more data and pics if they work out. One thing, the big foot control has a 47k pot and the new low profile foot control have a 51.7K pot, we went with a 50K pot for this test.

[performance]

Would going to a 10 to 50 percent ac balance make them cheaper? I know I would never set mine as high as 50%.

We are testing some premium logarithmic potentiometers on Sunday, we did not have them made, just bought some that are close to what we need that were in stock. Getting some with the right amount of rotation is a challenge. I will post more data and pics if they work out. One thing, the big foot control has a 47k pot and the new low profile foot control have a 51.7K pot, we went with a 50K pot for this test.

I've discussed this before from time to time, as we get a new round of guys into the forum.... We have a 10-90% unit available. Making something "cheaper" isn't an issue. We have our price points and features established. This is for good reason. If all the units had the same features, then they'd be no distiniction between them, and one model or two would get crushed. It isn't always about cost of manufacture, but rather about offering additional features for additional price points. Offering additional amperage, is just like offering a larger horsepower engine in the same model car. It doesn't necessarily a lot more to make, but it is where profitabilty increases. We "Set" certain performance features within the line to have certain features and prices just as a car manufacturer offers different package levels. Not everyone will want the top end line of the 250EX and the features that come with it...whether it be the price, or the amount of power, or the extra features. Again, ,30-70% is MORE than sufficient for adjustment. Most transformer TIGS offer less than 40-60 % if any at all.

[srp]

We have three Everlast foot controls, one is the old style with not much variance in control, one is the new style that works perfectly and one new style that loses it variance after about 5 minutes of welding. All of these controls have been adjusted when new so there is no issue with adjustment.

We spent most of the day testing foot controls, we installed a Clarostat potentiometer in the new pedal that had the issue, seller said he thought it was a logarithmic potentiometer. I could not tell by ohming it out.

The new potentiometer had precise control at low amperage. With the panel set at 250, we could weld at 10 amps with the full control and no chance of shutting of the welder until we were ready to stop welding. I am very impressed with Everlast welders with a premium potentiometer, It had much much more control than the good foot pedal I have.

With the foot control at 3/4 pedal, the amperage is about 50% output and the last 1/4 pedal controlled the last 50% output.

The potentiometer had a larger shaft at .250 and had to be cut to length, but the biggest issue was it had to much rotation. Everlast should check into getting some with the correct outside diameter and length with the right rotation that has the same guts as these.

Clarostat
5905-00-869-2
012 43M 50K
625-8840

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...iometer007.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...stcontrol2.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...astcontrol.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...astcontol1.jpg

I have one that has not been installed yet if Everlast want to put there hands on one or I could send one that is ready to weld in the pedal for testing if needed.

[srp]

srp, a log taper will read about 40% of it ohm range at 1/4 of its rotation range, 70% of its ohm range at 1/2 of its rotation range, and about 88% of its ohm range at 3/4 of its rotation range.

It must not be logarithmic then because it seems to be linear when checking with a multi meter. I did not add any capacitors or resistors. When comparing pedals, the one with the new pot has almost two times the control in the first half of the pedal and the back half is very rapid. It seems to be logarithmic when hooked up to the welder to me. The crazy thing is, these potentiometers don't hardly cost anything.