185 Micro Goes Bang!!??!?!?!?!?

[D2junky]

Was welding on some steel tubing this morning and finished up and headed for some aluminum angle that I was going to practice on. Switched over to AC adjusted my AC balance to about 50% and Frequency to about the middle of adjustment just to get a feel for things. Laid a bead down and was working on my puddle control without filler and it was looking pretty good. Picked up my filler and cleaned up a new area.....stainless brush wipedown with acetone and let dry. Stepped on the pedal and noticed that my arc really wasn't wanting to start very well. Before I could let off the pedal KABOOM from the machine and the breaker tripped. This is a 40amp breaker and a thin piece of angle so wasn't real sure what happened. Turned off the unit immediately and unplugged from the outlet. Let it sit and scratched my head a minute. Good ground contact..wasn't on DC....Argon flowing and plenty in tank. Turned breaker back on and checked the outlet and all looked well. Plugged machine in no problem. Turned on power switch and KABOOM again. Shut down and unplugged and headed to computer. I'm afraid to turn anything on for fear of damaging the machine or other equipment. Any Ideas or is it back to Everlast to test the warranty service. This is a brand new machine probably used for less than 1hour total. Im wondering if the contact points have closed up completely but not cracking this thing open yet.

[D2junky]

So I opened the case to see what was going on. The first thing I noticed and hadn't really paid attention to is the front and rear plastice panels were badly cracked up during shipment it looks like. On the inside......well lets just say its going back to everlast. Never checked the contact points as the circut board on the left side of the machine as you face it is pretty black and toasty. It's packed up and headed back to Everlast.

[Oleg]

D2

Please call me Monday and ship unit only. I will cross ship you unit as well

Oleg


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.753131,-122.505362

[performance]

Sorry to hear that problem. The 185's have been a real decent unit as far as that goes. Keep you balance around 35% instead of 50. Did you have a dual voltage or a single voltage unit? Was it on 220V? (With a 40 amp circuit, I'd assume so). And was white and black used as hot?

[welderdude]

Mark, does the cleaning balance setting affect the duty cycle of the 185 micro in any way?

[D2junky]

Thought I would give everyone an update.........I received my new unit. Face plate on this one is cracked too. No biggy....I have some lumps and bumps as well. Been waiting for the gas man to arrive with Argon and it came Friday morning. I live in the sticks....its a pain. Anyway off the bat I'm experiencing rough arc starts on AC. Initially no problem on DC but now on DC as well. With the AC balance turned down to about 9 oclock on the dial I get no arc start at all. Once I have the balance up to about 10 oclock I'll get a rough start but then things smooth out when I give it more pedal. I'm welding some 1/8 inch 5052. I'll get a great bead going and about halfway through the arc stuttters and spits until it just plain wont weld. Figure I'll check the points gap and go to open the case and there are NO SCREWS HOLDING THE BACK COVER ON. Frustratiion is mounting as I wait for the west coasters to come in but I'm not happy at all at this point. Ugh I'm two months behind on a motorcycle I should be riding at this point.

[performance]

It sounds as if it could be bad gas...if the arc is sputtering. That would account for it in DC and AC. It is one possibility. The other is indeed point gap settings, if it is a problem with starting.

What Tungsten are you using?

[srp]

If I don't take a straight punch and run it in to the holes on my collet body and tighten it up good and tight, mine will act kinda like that.

[D2junky]

This was a dual voltage unit...the last one they had in stock. At the time I wanted the dual voltage unit for flexibility but I really don't need it. Yes it was on 220 and the white and black were used as hot. Machine had been working fine and I had used it on aluminum before without any trouble. I have it boxed up and waiting for the west coasters to rise and shine to get it shipped out.

[zoama]

This was a dual voltage unit...the last one they had in stock. At the time I wanted the dual voltage unit for flexibility but I really don't need it. Yes it was on 220 and the white and black were used as hot. Machine had been working fine and I had used it on aluminum before without any trouble. I have it boxed up and waiting for the west coasters to rise and shine to get it shipped out.

Be sure to keep everything except the welder itself.

[Jake98]

Welcome to the forum D2.

[GUNNER]

D2

Please call me Monday and ship unit only. I will cross ship you unit as well

Oleg


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.753131,-122.505362

Hmmmmm? I would think this post by the man himself should clearly explain what should have been done! Why start all this BS about company policy after the owner already posted this? NOT IMPRESSED

[Powertig]

What a bummer D2. Well it sounds like Mark and Oleg are on top of things I hope you get your new unit soon and have better luck with that one. keep us updated and welcome to the forum.

[D2junky]

Well my unit arrived at Everlast yesterday. Sadly the tracking number they have provided me for the replacement says the label was created but it doesn't look like my replacement has been shipped and nothing has arrived on my end as of yet and emails have not been answered. Frustration is setting in.......

[Zmechanic]

The "label was created thing" is pretty useless, tbh. Just means someone made/printed a label.

[brad3579]

What is the normal procedure for returning broken equipment?
Does Everlast ship a new one out at the same time as the broken unit is shipped back or do they wait to look at it first?

[D2junky]

I was told that as soon as I notified them I had shipped my unit they would ship a replacement. Had great response up until that point from Katya regarding the whole return process. I'll call today and see what's going on as the emails aren't being answered at this point.

[Oleg]

What is the normal procedure for returning broken equipment?
Does Everlast ship a new one out at the same time as the broken unit is shipped back or do they wait to look at it first?

We wait for item to be delivered to us BUT in some cases we cross ship

case by case

[JBnID]

D2- There was a trailer picked up by UPS but not trans-shipped last Friday of about a hundred machines. Mine is on the truck for delivery now. Yours probably is too.