Hello, everyone;
I'm usually a lurker here and have learned a lot, but now I have a problem for which I can't find guidance in the archives. I'm trying to build the above mentioned circuit, simple by the standards of many of you, but I haven't made it work yet. It's purpose is to ionize the atmosphere between the welder electrode and the work so the welding current will start without their touching. I've tried a couple of designs I've found, but no success. I'd like to try this one: http://www.yoreparo.com/foros/files/hf15.gif, but I'm a bit confused. The circuits I've found all show a lamp dimmer or equivalent to control output, but all I see here is R3, which looks like just a variable resistor. Input is 120v AC, T1 is an auto ingnition coil, T2 is a 1:1 xmfr to superimpose the hf onto the welding current, and G to the right of T1 is a pair of spark gaps. This circuit is from an old Lincoln Welder manual so I know it works. Does anybody know if R3 is a simple pot and will it work on such high voltage? Here's a similar circuit that didn't work for me (got a weak arc at the welder electrode but it didn't start the welding current.)
http://www.casano.com/projects/hfstart/index.html
Thank you for any advice.
Rick A
I'm usually a lurker here and have learned a lot, but now I have a problem for which I can't find guidance in the archives. I'm trying to build the above mentioned circuit, simple by the standards of many of you, but I haven't made it work yet. It's purpose is to ionize the atmosphere between the welder electrode and the work so the welding current will start without their touching. I've tried a couple of designs I've found, but no success. I'd like to try this one: http://www.yoreparo.com/foros/files/hf15.gif, but I'm a bit confused. The circuits I've found all show a lamp dimmer or equivalent to control output, but all I see here is R3, which looks like just a variable resistor. Input is 120v AC, T1 is an auto ingnition coil, T2 is a 1:1 xmfr to superimpose the hf onto the welding current, and G to the right of T1 is a pair of spark gaps. This circuit is from an old Lincoln Welder manual so I know it works. Does anybody know if R3 is a simple pot and will it work on such high voltage? Here's a similar circuit that didn't work for me (got a weak arc at the welder electrode but it didn't start the welding current.)
http://www.casano.com/projects/hfstart/index.html
Thank you for any advice.
Rick A