Hello all

[GMad]

Hello everyone, I found you as a result of a Google search and the reason I was looking, is that I have a slight problem?
I was given (thank goodness it was free) a Maypole Maxi Mig 100 a few weeks back.
Today I had the first job for it, so got every thing set up, plugged it into the mains, flicked the power switch and well, nothing.. So far all I've done is replace the 13 amp fuse and still no power?
I didn't get a manual with it, so I removed the covers to look for broken or loose wires, but visually all looks good. My question is, does this model of welder have a re set button, or are they prone to any common problems?
Please be gentle as I'm certainly no electrician and given that it was free of charge, I really don't want to start throwing money at it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[malcolm]

A lit of the small MIGs don't have any internal fan, and the little light on the front tends to be an overload warning light rather than a power on light. So nothing to give the game away that it's switched on.

Have you tried squeezing the trigger to see if the wire feed starts turning, or tried to see if it will weld?

 

[GMad]

A lit of the small MIGs don't have any internal fan, and the little light on the front tends to be an overload warning light rather than a power on light. So nothing to give the game away that it's switched on.

Have you tried squeezing the trigger to see if the wire feed starts turning, or tried to see if it will weld?

Yup tried both and nothing is happening?

 

[malcolm]

That's a shame - would have been an easy answer. Many other people on the forum are much more switched on to electrical problems with welders than me. Hopefully one of them will answer.

The extent of my knowledge: There is a contact inside the torch trigger that switches everything on. Could be worth unscrewing the torch and connecting the contacts together manually to see if that sorts things. Failing that, dirty connectors or switches are possibilities. (Knock the switches backwards and forwards and make sure they are fully engaged - was caught out by that one myself today).

 

[BillJ]

I would have thought there should at least be a neon indicator (often built into the on/off switch) to show the power is switched on. Even my SIP has one of those. That's not to say the neon is actually working, of course.

If you have a meter, the first thing to check would be for mains voltage at the switch. If it's not getting that far, you've got a bad connection or there's a fuse you haven't found yet.

 

[weldequip]

The neon On/Off switch on those machines only lights up when the thermal cut-out device has activated & not when it's just turned on.
I think you will find a fine fuse (1-2amp) mounted on the main control board (PCB)... check that.

weldequip

 

[GMad]

The neon On/Off switch on those machines only lights up when the thermal cut-out device has activated & not when it's just turned on.
I think you will find a fine fuse (1-2amp) mounted on the main control board (PCB)... check that.

weldequip

Thanks gents, yup I can see the small fuse so I'll check it in the morning and if it's duff, a quick trip up to Maplin methinks..

 

[GMad]

Cured! It was indeed that small fuse (it hadn't blown, the fuse wire had become detached!). So thankyou for your help and suggestions..