Please help me -Welder Controller

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
I have a lot of igbt and big scrs out of vfd I want to use some to make a welder controller I know a little about electronics but I just can't read the schematics I see on here can someone help me on how to wire some of this stuff up I have the huge 1200 volt 120 amp stuff , base collector emitter and base source and gate but I just can't grasp the wiring, I'm sorry if this is wrong how I posted this, I have my nc and sc electrical contractors license but electronics are so different than running conduit and pulling wire, I can provide a lot more info on the componants I have if I can get a response from someone I so much want to learn more about electronics.
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
38,506
First you need to learn how to read schematics. It's the language of electronics.
If you can read wiring diagrams you should be able to learn how to read schematics.
First order is to get familiar with the various schematic symbols, such as for resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, bipolar transistors, MOSFET transistors, SCRs, IGBTs, etc and their operation.
Once you are familiar with those, than the schematic connections should start to make sense.
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
First you need to learn how to read schematics. It's the language of electronics.
If you can read wiring diagrams you should be able to learn how to read schematics.
First order is to get familiar with the various schematic symbols, such as for resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, bipolar transistors, MOSFET transistors, SCRs, IGBTs, etc and their operation.
Once you are familiar with those, than the schematic connections should start to make sense.
Thank you for your reply its lazy of me but if I could just talk to someone about where to hook up the wires to e1 and g1 g2 its just got me confused I made a perfect motor controller out of a n channel mosfet I had left over from making vape boxes I used a verible resistor and it worked perfect , I hooked the thing up perfect, I'm on vacation or I would send more info I have a picture of one of the scr I also have huge capacitors and thank you for being kind and not rude I am so excited about electronics I been making amps and I am going to order maybe a rasberry pi to play with I can take a laptop apart and fix anything about it but these scrs have me a little stumped
 

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Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
SMAW?, TIG?, MIG? SPOT?, What about the voltage source?
There are some designs out there using a ex- microwave transformer.
Max.
Thank you sir for your reply I just have some 400 watt metal halide transformers I rewound secondary on and want to wire up a simple controller actually I just wish I could wire up a led light to one and see how an igbt works , is it n channel do I out positive to gate to make drain and source connect I just wish I had some guidance
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
I think I click picture button to many times anyway I just wish someone could give me a simple test to teach me how they work , that big ab drive is where I got a lot of the power blocks and all kinds of stuff
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
First you need to learn how to read schematics. It's the language of electronics.
If you can read wiring diagrams you should be able to learn how to read schematics.
First order is to get familiar with the various schematic symbols, such as for resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, bipolar transistors, MOSFET transistors, SCRs, IGBTs, etc and their operation.
Once you are familiar with those, than the schematic connections should start to make sense.
I made a pcb the other day with 2 bridged rectifier wired in series to a capacitor off of a 400 watt metel halide transformer rewound to around 18 volts and it runs a small 18 volt skill saw it turned out pretty good I just need someone to challenge me with small projects I have a pin board with every kind of transistor and resistors and diodes and capacitors I ordered thousands of componants , 20 diy lm3886 amps I finally figured out I had to use to laptop supplies to power it I learned that from a guy in India on facebook
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
What kind of welder do you want to make and why?

Unless you are just wanting to do the project for the academic learning process you could easily sell those VFD units for way more than what you can buy a band new multi function welding rig for.

Earlier this spring I sold off a bunch of my surplus VFD and related gear and got around $800 - $1200 a piece for several bigger units like you have.

Given that I see no reason to destroy several hundred to a several thousand dollars worth of equipment to build what will be basically a very poor, basic and limited welder with a handful of the parts.
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
What kind of welder do you want to make and why?

Unless you are just wanting to do the project for the academic learning process you could easily sell those VFD units for way more than what you can buy a band new multi function welding rig for.

Earlier this spring I sold off a bunch of my surplus VFD and related gear and got around $800 - $1200 a piece for several bigger units like you have.

Given that I see no reason to destroy several hundred to a several thousand dollars worth of equipment to build what will be basically a very poor, basic and limited welder with a handful of the parts.
I do see your point and I have sold many drives and have many more tvses are just a few that will never be put back in a drive I have advertised them I have Allen Bradley transformers that are 500 on eBay but they just don't sell any one interested in any of these big components I will sell them for a good price
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
I would rather learn how to wire the stuff and be able to troubleshoot electronics more than 5,000 dollars for the componants I WILL TRADE COMPONSNTS FOR ONLINE TUTORING
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
I do see your point and I have sold many drives and have many more tvses are just a few that will never be put back in a drive I have advertised them I have Allen Bradley transformers that are 500 on eBay but they just don't sell any one interested in any of these big components I will sell them for a good price
I've never had trouble selling stuff but then I take the approach of making sure my prices are way lower than everyone else's and down in a range people will pay for.

If I have a used or surplus time I got for very little and the online market shows people are asking $1000 for an item, yet not may or any, are actually moving at that price I start out with a $750 or less price on my steff. I'd rather have $750 cash in hand than a dead item I can't sell for a $1000, just like everyone else.

Know your market and what people will pay for things (not what you want for something) and you will do far more business than everyone else who doesn't and thinks they can sell less for more than it's worth to their customer base.
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
I've never had trouble selling stuff but then I take the approach of making sure my prices are way lower than everyone else's and down in a range people will pay for.

If I have a used or surplus time I got for very little and the online market shows people are asking $1000 for an item, yet not may or any, are actually moving at that price I start out with a $750 or less price on my steff. I'd rather have $750 cash in hand than a dead item I can't sell for a $1000, just like everyone else.

Know your market and what people will pay for things (not what you want for something) and you will do far more business than everyone else who doesn't and thinks they can sell less for more than it's worth to their customer base
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
Thank u for your reply tcmtech I did indeed reduce my price and I sold many Allen Bradley flex 4 drives that pic is just one of a huge drive that had been repaired several times and blew up two or three huge capacitors it got replaced with a 525 I took it apart and I want to learn about these scrs , triacs and such I wish I could get some one to tutor me I got fifty ebooks but just still confused about the three bigscrews on top and smal spade connectors on side the e1 and e2 and g1 g2 or what ever they say I just want to build something and learn , if I had some one tell me which wires to connect and hook up a small load and help me I could see how they work I watch videos on YouTube I have learned so much , I read but I can't find enough yet I want someone to tell me a simple thing to hook up to learn how they work , hopefully someone will guide me in what. Should do.
 

shortbus

Joined Sep 30, 2009
10,050
Have you tried looking at the data sheets for the components? They will tell you all you need to know about how the interface with the rest of a circuit. And there are application notes too from most manufactures.
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
Have you tried looking at the data sheets for the components? They will tell you all you need to know about how the interface with the rest of a circuit. And there are application notes too from most manufactures.
Yep. Best place to learn about how a component works is to read up on them specifically in both the actual data sheets and in as many other study guide and practical applications reference sources as you can find.

The biggest things with learning electronics is being how to correctly read a schematic and a component data sheet.
Until you can understand the language and meanings of it's terminology fluently there is a very finite limit on how much anyone can tutor you in anything.

The forum here has a pretty good tutorial and related work sections to look through, if you haven't started already. (tabs at top of page)
 

Thread Starter

don ellis

Joined Sep 23, 2016
12
Thank you for both of your comments and actually I found some stuff on here last night that help me a great deal it was a question and answer thing that showed an scr and then you could click on real answer and the man would answer why it would or would not work or why it would short if you pressed the button and it was great , I understand mosfet pretty good and I got the lm350 down alright I'm learning and I LOVE ELECTRONICS !! I'm going to order me a rasberry pi or something , I have stepper motors and all kinds of stuff to play with I just want to know what I'm doing and why this or that is happening , this site is great so far NO CONDESCENDING COMMENTS thank god , good friendly people I hope the administrator sees this YOU HAVE A GREAT SITE!!!
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
this site is great so far NO CONDESCENDING COMMENTS thank god
People are pretty good here if you don't get an attitude in a bad way. If you do things get pretty rough fast if you go up against the wrong person over/with something petty and childish that's easily disproven or just serves no gainful purpose. ;)

Act courteously and professionally and you get treated the same. Act like a whining butthurt spoiled child and will get spanked. Go troll and the knives come out. :p
 
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