Non R-tech foot pedal

[ben8vgte]

So I picked up a 2nd hand acdc201 the other day without a foot pedal, but seeing what other say about the r-tech ones I might get something else.

So the question is what are the TEc arc ones like as they can supply one to suit most machines, or would I be better off getting a SC controls one if the price and time in shipping is not too bad. Unless another one from UK is good and suitable?

 

[gordon stephenson]

Tec arc will be fine. I have had 2 pedals made by SCC in the usa, Very good quality. They make original pedals for Lincoln/Millar etc.One of the pedals came though customs free, an identical one later cost me £35-00.

 

[ben8vgte]

Tec arc will be fine. I have had 2 pedals made by SCC in the usa, Very good quality. They make original pedals for Lincoln/Millar etc.One of the pedals came though customs free, an identical one later cost me £35-00.

Perfect thanks, the Tec arc seem about the same price as the ones from R tech as well.

 

[ben8vgte]

Well to update, I got a Tec arc made pedal, first use wont get full amps. So out with the multimeter and the pot is not adjusted to give the full 47K, not good for a brand new item!

Then pulled the back off to adjust and I'm lost for words, just utter tosh! I think they will be having this back, either by post or the front window. I thought Tec arc were meant to be good, not so sure now at all.

I'm not blaming anyone but Tecarc, but silicone sealant to stick things on, a tiny cheap pot with long bar on with a spring at the end is asking for trouble. I used it for a few minutes and the play on that bar/pot is hocking already!

Should of got a SCC or made one myself..

 

[hotrodder]

Should of got a SCC or made one myself...

You won't regret buying an SSC pedal, the insides of mine...

The pot spindle is supported in double shear, driven via a rack and pinion and the latter isn't plastic or secured to the pot with a self tapper like some other copies of it either... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/r-tech-foot-pedal-has-died.44732/

 

[ben8vgte]

Cheers for the pic, I had looked at the other thread and hoped that the Tecarc would be better than the R-tech. Looks worse to me!

What was the lead time and import fees like on the SCC ?

 

[hotrodder]

You'd have to ask Gordan about timescales, mines badged as a Lincoln pedal as i bought it eons ago before i'd heard of SCC Controls

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have had two pedals from SSC.sent emails to discuss requirements and the built them for me sharpish,, excellent bits of kit, Strong and stylish, love the design, 2 spring loaded pins to push in and you are right into the gubbins if they "ever" need any attention

 

[ben8vgte]

Well SCC emailed so that's the plan, Tecarc phoned hmmm..

Apparently most foot pedals do not allow you reach full amps, almost none in there exact words. I said 150A from a 200A machine is shocking, well it's common he said! Then I mentioned the build quality aspects, oh we have been making them that way for 15 years. We have had no complaints before, well actually not many. So I asked to send it back for a refund, not sorry we don't do them. After much back and forth he agreed to a refund but will be a 15% restocking fee, better than nothing and having an expensive chocolate teapot...

Never again...

 

[hotrodder]

So not only looks like it was cobbled together in 5 mins out what was kicking around in the offcut bin you get great customer service. Footpedals lower the max output of the machine, what a load of BS

You need to google 'distance selling regulations' (can add 'restocking charge' to that too if you want) and have a read up before contacting them again...

 

[ben8vgte]

So not only looks like it was cobbled together in 5 mins out what was kicking around in the offcut bin you get great customer service. Footpedals lower the max output of the machine, what a load of BS

You need to google 'distance selling regulations' (can add 'restocking charge' to that too if you want) and have a read up before contacting them again...

Thanks will have a read of that tomorrow and see, I was going to ring them again Monday before I send it back anyhow.

 

[ben8vgte]

Well to update this, sent the tecarc back.. It cost me £192.60 inc all in with me supplying the machine plug, I got £158.20 back as a refund and I payed the return fees of £12 so using them has cost me £46.40 for dodgy workmanship and very poor customer service, they are the rudest company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with on the phone.

Ordered the SCC one, sent out the next day with a tracking number and 2 weeks later I have it here.. Quicker than Tecarc can manage! Ordered with no machine plug it cost £119.03 inc shipping then duty and RM fees were another £30.53 so all in £149.56. Cheaper than Tecarc, quicker and properly made, what can I learn from this well.....

 

[hotrodder]

What did they say about restocking fees when you mentioned the distance selling regulations or do they not apply because the pedal was a special order due to you suppling the plug?

 

[ben8vgte]

Special order, to be honest just could not be bothered to deal with them anymore. Just going to chalk it down to experience and move on to my new shiny working SCC

 

[lchris21]

had a similar experience with tecarc last year over a pedal they "made" for my Xcalibur Tig set. I ended up as a remote development engineer, it felt like, as it never performed out of the box, taking readings with a DMM, adjusting things..............on a brand new pedal!! I persevered as I had limited choice of suppliers...... I too was shocked at the internals. In the end I sent it back, when i found an alternative supplier, but Tecarc refused to pay return postage, a whopping £8.50. Countless emails and phonecalls, fell on deaf ears................
I had the last laugh though, as I purchase the workshop equipment as part of my job, we were looking for a new setup, mig, tig, arc, plasma etc.. Our welding equipment supplier was pushing Tecarc, but I refused to consider them. Cost them over £6K in lost business for the sake of £8.50....What goes around comes around

 

[ben8vgte]

Just to update this.. The SSC is a delight to use, the first part of the travel does not move the pot but just turns the switch on. Most importantly goes up to full amps, even though TECarc say that no pedal does.. Ergonomics of the pedal are great too, feels quite natural

So if anyone else gets one the wire colours and pin numbers are.
1 White
2 Black
3 Red
4 Brown
5 Blue
6-7 Linked out

That's for the older style R-tech plug, which I got from R-tech for a couple of quid each

 

[HughF]

Just taken delivery of an SSC pedal (the L50,000-S-25ft) for my r-tech 201. Only had to pay £29 customs charges to parcelforce - delivered quickly. Total of about £150 all in I think. I'll wire it up tonight and report.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Very disappointed at Tec-Arc,I have have some good repairs done there in the past, The price they are charging for their foot pedal is appalling when you see the internals, That return spring design is totally cr@p !!

 

[Wallace]

That's pedals a shocking piece of sh**te inside, looks like a school project or an R&D lashup. This is the inside of my Tec Arc pedal bought back in 2009, Still don't see why it was £200 unless the linear pot was expensive.

 

[mr migwire]

if you got that tec-arc pedal in 2009 and they recon they have been making them to the same design as the one ben8vgte purchased for the last 15 years, then i am either s##t at math or they are a shower of lying toerags wot need there erse kicked for telling porkies.......
they look like completely different pedals.....