255ext HF Start

[labmaster02]

Rambozo
I'll try your suggestions when I get home today. I also have a Millermatic 211 MIG and that one does the same thing, after welding if I touch the wire to the metal it sparks, sometimes enough to darken the helmet. Miller says it's residual voltage from the caps. I know it's a different machine with the transformer though.

Performance
I read an article from Miller talking about having to scratch the tungsten across the metal if it doesn't start. They blame it on either the tungsten or the material is contaminated. I've considered this too but if even happens with clean metal and tungsten.

Something I noticed last night while trying this was the HF was erratic. Even when it started, the time varied, it wasn't always the .5 setting on the preflow, Sometimes it was noticeably longer even when it did work

Thanks for all the help

[rick9345]

Don't know about 250EXT,but on my 250EX and Miller Syncrowave 250 and my old Dialarc all have points and sensitive to point gap setting for smooth consistant HF starts.
When using pedal set start amps at 0 and end amps at 0 and be in 2T
Gas leak argon contamination??

Suggest call Everlast support.
They have been very helpful for me, have info in hand ,ser#, settings etc.

[labmaster02]

255ext has solid state HF no points

[performance]

A few 255EXT's were produced with points. If you see a spark/blue light coming from the front, then it does.

[labmaster02]

I have the 2015 model. I understood the don't have points. If this isn't the case please let me know.

[labmaster02]

Here's the results of Rambozo's request.

If I scratch the tungsten on the metal first it seems to work every time. This doesn't surprise me. Occasionally I would see the faint spark. It's very light and hard to see sometimes. The arc strike was consistent with the .5 preflow.

If I press the pedal to get the post flow going, then bring the tungsten to the metal and press the pedal again. It would immediately strike an arc. This is because the preflow was already off. At first it seemed to work. Then it misfired several times.

[cadguy]

Every Tig machine I have ever used, inverters as well as transformer machines, (not a huge array) has had that tiny spark.
I assumed it was some kind of residual voltage from either caps that had not discharged, or a normal function of the sense circuit of the arc start function. I have a new 255 ext, and am having kind of the opposite problem, I can shoot a HF arc about 3 inches. Problem is when I try to weld aluminum can together, the HF will roll a .040 tungsten back into the cup, and blow a hole right in the can. Occasionally I can get it to start without that happening, and welds just fine, until I back off at the end, the POW, the HF kicks in again an will proceed to blow a hole in the material!

[windscreen]

A few 255EXT's were produced with points. If you see a spark/blue light coming from the front, then it does.

Hi Mark. I apparently have one of the few 255EXTs with points. Could you be so kind as to provide a spec for what the points gap should be. The manual is written around the solid state HF start machine, and has no spec. I'd like to write down the value in my manual for future reference.

Thanks,
-Steve

[performance]

.035" with a range of .030-.045"

[WhitsonMetal]

I see and hear the same part in my 325, lights (like an arc) when pedal is pressed.