Finally welded with the new TIG...kinda

[Rambozo]

No, Rambozo, they are not a work in progress. The 160 manual is complete and up to date. Way more detailed than some other name brand ones.

That may be but it still has errors and omissions in it.

[performance]

That may be but it still has errors and omissions in it.

What errors and omissions? Be nice to know so if there are we can correct it.

[Rambozo]

What errors and omissions? Be nice to know so if there are we can correct it.

One thing missing is the question that has been asked about how the 160 readout works with a pedal. Perhaps that could be explained briefly so new users understand what to expect.

Errors:
Page 15: "The foot pedal allows full range of amp operation and the panel AMP knob is not overridden when connected."
The word not should be removed as the panel amp knob is overridden by the pedal. Or the word overridden could be changed to functional. I suspect someone was thinking along those lines and just got things transposed. Pick one.

While the plug on page 19 is specified, on page 18 the drawing attempts to use one diagram for both 120V and 220V wiring and labels the plug 30-50 amp. The drawing is clearly a NEMA 6-50 and that is a very different plug from either a 5-30 or a 6-30. Several people have been confused about blade widths and which is the neutral blade. This is somewhat understandable because of the diagram, and the standard convention of swapping wide and narrow sides between 120 and 240 volt plugs. Perhaps it would be better to split this into two diagrams, one for 120V and one for 240V. Then you can show the proper plugs. NEMA 6-30 is so uncommon I would not even bring it up. Although it would be a great choice for some of these machines, anyone that would select it will probably know how to use it. I would say the two plugs to diagram are the 6-50 which is shown and a 5-15 / 5-20 for the 120V side. I think this would handle over 90% of users. While the 5-20 is the preferred plug, the 5-15 is so common and can be used in 5-20 outlets, that I think it has to be included. Here is an example of all three.



Of course it sounds like some of this will be moot if all the new welders are going to ship with plugs installed, and adapters included for dual voltage models. That in itself should be cause for an update of the manual, though.

[performance]

The manual will be updated for specification changes/additions coming on the PowerArcs in the next 6 weeks or so. The error with the word "not" had already been corrected in the master copy. But a 6-30 is NOT uncommon as nearly every single 6-50 amp plug comes this way with a 6-30 sideways slot and additional blade for adaptation, so the 30-50 amp is correct as that was cited directly from the packaging of the plug. But I don't see a work in progress here. One error, and one need for clarification. The way you put it, it sounded as it was not very reliable and needed a lot of work.

Edit: Changing to "not functional", would not necessarily improve the meaning. In fact it makes it sound like there will be no amp control at all. In an effort to be concise and work with limited space, the "overridden" would be correct. When anything "overrides" it takes control.

[Jason]

Edit: Changing to "not functional", would not necessarily improve the meaning. In fact it makes it sound like there will be no amp control at all. In an effort to be concise and work with limited space, the "overridden" would be correct. When anything "overrides" it takes control.

I may not have the full effect of it but after reading that line, not overridden doesn't seem correct in the context of talking about the knob. The Pedal does override the knob correct. The knob does loose functionality during the time the pedal has overridden its circuit and taken control. Maybe the proper solution is to remove the word not or change the sentence entirely to be more specific that the pedal does override the control of the knob but functionality is restored when the pedal is disconnected. Just my 2 cents.

[performance]

Jason, the word "not" was inserted as it was accidentally left in there after a rewrite of the note. It's very hard to convey a concise meaning of operation to someone who has no experience with your welder...so occasionally after literally a 100 hours or more staring at the same document, things sort of blur. Creating the drawings, correlating the information to be appropriate etc, is all a monumental task even for a simple manual like the PowerArcs. Each edition gets better, true, as I have created more detailed drawings that I can use for stock. Of course, with the level of the unit, more is expected. For example, the new manual coming on the 2013 250EX is a lot more detailed in it's drawings. Originally we used pictures, but in reality, sometimes photos don't transfer well to being able to physically see the subject matter. Technical drawings are typically better at representing the subject than even a photo can...so we've tried to incorporate that in more of the manuals. They also print better.

Here's a couple unfinished samples to show the improvements.

[Jason]

I understand how looking at documentation for a long period of time gets that way. When we let our technical documenter go, I took over that position and spent 63 hours over 2 weeks working on documentation for the next release that the previous had not started. My eyes started to blur and I got very tired/bored lol... I don't think I would ever last doing that full time.

[youngnstudly]

Mark, it looks like you guys are on track with making the needed changes and updates for the manuals (the samples posted look great). I looked through the 160STH manual on the Everlast site in October (right before I purchased my 160), and the manual that arrived with the machine was nothing like what was posted on the website. While the manual included with my welder isn't "bad", I was expecting some information to be included in regards to what plug needed to be purchased, as well as some other misc. info (that is slipping my mind at the moment!). I was able to cross check my neighbor's welder plug so I knew what model plug to purchase, but others may not.

Another thing I didn't see mentioned anywhere was what size torch parts are supplied with the unit...I ended up bringing the needed parts with me to the LWS in order to get the correct size tungsten and match up (additional) gas cups for my torch, so it was no big deal. However, I could see an unknowing purchaser buying incorrect consumables. A quick and simple write up on sharpening the tungsten might help those new to TIG welding too as that is "bare basic" knowledge that is needed to use a TIG welder for the first time. I did notice that the online manual covers a few of my suggestions, but as previously mentioned, the online manual was not what I received with my welder, (just FYI).

I can see how looking at staring at these manual pages for long periods would make things blurry! It's also hard to come up with suggestions when (naturally) you take your already existent knowledge of welding for granted and assume that someone new to welding would already know to do "this or that". Sort of like teaching a beginner to drive a car equipped with a manual transmission!

I can't figure out how to post my PDF scans of the manual I received, so I will have to try again tomorrow. It's late and I'm tired!

Anyways, keep up the good work!