Foot Pedal pin-out for Tec-Arc TIG216i AC-DC ?

[Greybeard]

I recently bought a very nice, barely-used Tec-Arc TIG216i AC-DC, and want to adapt a generic pedal to connect to the 5 pin XLR remote socket. I need to know which pins to use for the switch & potentiometer etc. I've emailed Tec-Arc three times to request this information, but no reply is forthcoming. Maybe they're closing down, or they don't care about second users.

I've seen comments from people who worked it out by trial and error, using multi-meters, logic probes etc, but I'm not at that level of expertise and it feels scary to connect wires 'to see what happens'. I'm hoping that someone has done this with a Tec-Arc and can help me out, or better still if anyone has a wiring diagram for the TIG216i AC-DC?

Thanks!

 

[Turbo]

It's normally in the user manual.

 

[Seadog]

Machine Mart also do a cheap range. I've had no problems with their fittings

 

[500e]

Stalhwerk AC/DC TIG 200 Pulse D IGBT Some one will know if this machine is the same as yours​

 

[500e]

Lincoln

Not saying ANY these will do but there are people here that may have same machine as you under different name

 

[Agroshield]

Looking at the picture of the machine here:

AC DC Tig Welding Inverters

Our TIG216i AC-DC & TIG276T AC-DC are designed for high quality welding of aluminium, aluminium alloys, stainless steels, mild steel, copper, brass, castings etc. Ideal for fabrication or maint…

technicalarc.co.uk

it appears to have TWO five pin sockets. One is for the switch, the other for the potentiometer. Is your one different, with only a single socket?

If it only has one socket, remove the case and identify where the wires from the socket go. The switch should have some relationship to the gas solenoid. That does not require fingerpoken or meterprodden just eyelooken.

 

[Greybeard]

Thanks for all the helpful replies - very much appreciated. I'll reply in one go rather than create loads of traffic.

This information isn't in the user manual. I have compatible XLR plugs, just need the pin-outs to know which wire to solder where. I know this welder is sold under various brands, and the wiring specs will probably work across them. I just don't know which one to copy.

Agroshield is right, this welder has two 5 pin XLR sockets, exactly as the TecArc website. The left one is switch-only, the right one is foot-pedal. I don't know if the foot-pedal socket contains duplicated switch wires (so that only one plug connection, is required), or whether I'll need to terminate the cable with two plugs (eg two cores into switch socket, three cores into pedal potentiometer socket).

I can certainly trace and identify the switch cabling to eliminate those from the puzzle. It's the three remaining wires for the potentiometer connection which worry me. Maybe I need to 'man up' and do this by trial & error. Other people have achieved this with generic pedals (eg these reviews on Amazon). I'll take the case off and see what I can find with the skills & tools I've got.

 

[500e]

Put up some photos of back of socket
It is a shame you tripped over the pedal wire and ripped it out of the plug I am sure they will tell you how to connect it again

 

[Agroshield]

...I know this welder is sold under various brands...

...whether I'll need to terminate the cable with two plugs...

What other brands have you seen? Name them and we can go looking for information.

The factory foot pedal does indeed have two plugs on it.

TecArc Foot Pedal (2 x 5 Pin Plugs)

This foot pedal from Technical Arc is designed for TecArc AC/DC TIG welders and is fitted with 2 x 5 pin plug connections to control the weld current and start/finish of a weld. A super smooth operation delivers precise control through all current settings and the pedal feels solid underfoot...

advancedweldingsupplies.com

You can see in the brochure that when you use a switched torch, it only plugs into the left hand socket.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I'd guess there is a bridge link somewhere as well or is there a switch for foot pedal on the welder?

 

[Turbo]

On my IFL you can wire it with a 3 pin or a 5 pin socket & you can work a foot petal out of either, just using a different wiring configuration.

See page 9 on the manual.
https://manualzz.com/doc/7298851/200hf-user-manual

 

[Greybeard]

What other brands have you seen? Name them and we can go looking for information.

Based on the case layout, twin handles, 4 knobs over 5 knobs, digital display top left, I suspect these all share some DNA with my Tec-Arc branded welder -

Weldmaster AC/DC TIG Welder - https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/advert/Weldmaster-AC-DC-TIG-Welder-200amp-240volt/16450/
Weldtech Protig 200 AC/DC - https://www.prolineindustrial.co.nz/product/weldtech-protig200-acdc-tig-welder-201512
Toshon TIG/ARC 200P AC/DC - https://toshonwelding.com/products/toshon-tig-arc-200p-ac-dc-single-phase-mosfet-welding-machine
MATWELD TIG315P AC/DC - https://arcwelders.co.za/matweld-tig315p-ac-dc-tig-welder/
WEI TIG Welding Machine 200 AC-DC - https://www.indiamart.com/weldingequipmentindia/tig-welding-machine.html
Cruxweld iTIG200ACDC - https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/tig-ac-dc-welder-machine-13419169355.html

These are all obscure overseas brands though. The only recognisable UK possibility appears to be Jasic models -
UniMig AC/DC 200 - https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/w174
UniMig 315 Tig Welder AC/DC - https://www.australiaindustrialgroup.com.au/product-page/unimig-315-tig-welder-ac-dc-welding-machine

I checked the UniMig manual, it only has info about connecting their own pedals & controls - basically "plug it in here..."

 

[roblane65]

That does not require fingerpoken or meterprodden just eyelooken.

made me chuckle ................

 

[addjunkie]

As your in yorkshire, why not ring tecarc up and ask! They are generally quite helpful

 

[Greybeard]

Put up some photos of back of socket
It is a shame you tripped over the pedal wire and ripped it out of the plug I am sure they will tell you how to connect it again

It would be nice if they replied at all! I'm going to phone them tomorrow, might be that their system has marked me as spam or something.

Back of socket photo attached -

Switch Controller circled green (left on front of panel) has two wires, red & black. They go to a small circuit board, and then another two wire connection goes to the front panel circuit board.

Pedal Controller circled pink (right on front of panel) has three wires, red, black & blue. They go directly to the front panel circuit board (circled red). The connector socket on the board is labelled P4 to left, and YK to right. There's no labelling to indicate which wire does what, but I wouldn't expect that.

So I'm deffo going to need a two-plug conversion on the foot pedal cable, just need to know how to connect the potentiometer wires.

 

[Greybeard]

Some general photos of the inside layout, for the interest of people who like that sort of thing

 

[Greybeard]

As your in yorkshire, why not ring tecarc up and ask! They are generally quite helpful

Yes, I think I need to do that. I've sent a couple of emails and logged a request on their web contact page, but for some reason no response. Others have told me that Tec-Arc are a decent firm, so I'm surprised. Hopefully I'll get some info tomorrow, and update this thread.

 

[addjunkie]

Yes, I think I need to do that. I've sent a couple of emails and logged a request on their web contact page, but for some reason no response. Others have told me that Tec-Arc are a decent firm, so I'm surprised. Hopefully I'll get some info tomorrow, and update this thread.

Not sure why but Ive tried a few of these web contact things and got no response from various companies, probably goes into spam or something. Rang them and found very helpful to deal with. One when I mentioned the web thing …”yes we know, but its still not sorted”.

An email is the modern tool to communicate, but also very easy to ignore if your busy!

 

[Greybeard]

Update - I phoned Tec-Arc today. The lady who took the call went away to ask someone for the information, but came back to apologetically explain that the company wouldn't give me this.. "we can't provide support for third party accessories."

I said I wasn't asking for support with the pedal control. I only wanted to know the configuration of the panel socket wiring on my Tec-Arc welder, which they had manufactured and sold. She said she had been told that the company was sick of people adapting their existing/used/cheap pedals instead of buying a new official Tec-Arc pedal (£215+VAT) and they wouldn't release the information.

It was a embarrassing call, to be honest. I felt like I was being accused of dishonesty, cheating the company of their rightful profits. The lady who took the call obviously wasn't comfortable with telling me to get stuffed, but my impression was that this message came from the manager or owner. There wasn't any option to speak to someone more senior etc.

I'm a retired hobbyist, I'm unlikely to buy many more welders. I understand that Tec-Arc doesn't need my goodwill, and doesn't need to care about providing support to me. But this is disappointing from a company who claim to offer "The best back up in the industry!".

 

[eddie49]

The generic name for these analog AC/DC TIG welders is "WSME-200".