Help requested - Cebora 130

[bg109685]

Hi All,

As a newbie I just have to say I have followed (and learnt a lot from) the forum on and off over the last couple of years so thank you for sharing advice and information so freely.

Down to business...

My Cebora 130 was working fine and part way through making up a tool just stopped. It still has power, the wire feed operates when the trigger operated, the transformer note changes when the power setting switches are flicked but no arc. When I stripped things down it is obvious that the contactor is not energising and when the button on the side is pressed things burst into life. I have checked the relay on the control board is operating correctly (even the delayed release operates).

My questions are:

• What is the triggers for the contactor, a DC voltage; if so what voltage?
• Any advice on testing the contactor, can I activate it with an external supply; if so what voltage?
• What is the correct output from the control board to the contactor?

I can find a contactor on fleabay and one of the part suppliers can supposedly repair the control board but need to narrow the problem to one part or the other.

Any assistance appreciated

B.

 

[Rig Pig]

Is the contactor coil getting a supply when you push the trigger?

 

[RonA]

Hi All,

As a newbie I just have to say I have followed (and learnt a lot from) the forum on and off over the last couple of years so thank you for sharing advice and information so freely.

Down to business...

My Cebora 130 was working fine and part way through making up a tool just stopped. It still has power, the wire feed operates when the trigger operated, the transformer note changes when the power setting switches are flicked but no arc. When I stripped things down it is obvious that the contactor is not energising and when the button on the side is pressed things burst into life. I have checked the relay on the control board is operating correctly (even the delayed release operates).

My questions are:

• What is the triggers for the contactor, a DC voltage; if so what voltage?
• Any advice on testing the contactor, can I activate it with an external supply; if so what voltage?
• What is the correct output from the control board to the contactor?

I can find a contactor on fleabay and one of the part suppliers can supposedly repair the control board but need to narrow the problem to one part or the other.

Any assistance appreciated

B.

Hi,
Had similar problem with my mates Cebora 130 a year or two back & the problem turned out to be the contactor. The unit is multi contact & though each contact is only rated at 30 Amps, they are paralleled upto pass the full rating of 130 Amp (when req'd).. The contactor is a fairly standard type & a replacement was sourced through a local electrical factors. I've a spare somewhere in the garage I'll dig it out & post the number tomorrow.
RonA

 

[mike 109444]

The contactor will probable have a AC rated coil (as it's cheaper, less winding than DC and no need to generate a separate DC) Should be marked on it somewhere. There will be two thinner wires that go to it which should be the power feed for the coil. See pic below, the white wire bottom left is one of the two (other not caught by camera!) If you disconnect machine from mains then disconnect one of the wires you can then meter the coil with an ohms meter. prob <100 ohms. if open circuit then duff coil (thing you can get replacement coils for some) If 100 or less then power not getting to it. Meter for AC on the pair of wires after reconnecting the earlier removed wire plugging in and triggering. Would expect 48vAC or less maybe 24 or even 12 (all AC) All the info should be printed on side inc part number.
And welcome BTW

 

[rikrobson]

The contactor operates off a 240 volt feed. The wires at the contactor are thin and are prone to breaking at the contactor. If you search for my thread on the cebora euro torch conversion there is a wiring diagram

 

[RonA]

Hi All,

As a newbie I just have to say I have followed (and learnt a lot from) the forum on and off over the last couple of years so thank you for sharing advice and information so freely.

Down to business...

My Cebora 130 was working fine and part way through making up a tool just stopped. It still has power, the wire feed operates when the trigger operated, the transformer note changes when the power setting switches are flicked but no arc. When I stripped things down it is obvious that the contactor is not energising and when the button on the side is pressed things burst into life. I have checked the relay on the control board is operating correctly (even the delayed release operates).

My questions are:

• What is the triggers for the contactor, a DC voltage; if so what voltage?
• Any advice on testing the contactor, can I activate it with an external supply; if so what voltage?
• What is the correct output from the control board to the contactor?

I can find a contactor on fleabay and one of the part suppliers can supposedly repair the control board but need to narrow the problem to one part or the other.

Any assistance appreciated

B.

Hi,
Further to my previous post & if you've proved ( as per other posts ) you have the pilot current to the contractor, should the contractor pull in coil have burned out, a replacement relay can be sourced from a local electrical factors. The make I used to fix my mates 130 was a 240V AC BBC make type HSA. H132. However they are a very common industrial relay & several manafacturers make relays to the same pattern.

RonA

 

[bg109685]

Hi All,

As I expected, you have really stepped up to the mark.

I have been working away during the week and will be dragging my meter out over the weekend. I "think" I measure 20V AC on one of the pilot wires that dropped to zero to zero when trigger closed so if the advice above is correct then it looks like the contactor is shot.

Once again thx for the fantastic responses.

Brian

 

[mike 109444]

Hi All,

As I expected, you have really stepped up to the mark.

I have been working away during the week and will be dragging my meter out over the weekend. I "think" I measure 20V AC on one of the pilot wires that dropped to zero to zero when trigger closed so if the advice above is correct then it looks like the contactor is shot.

Once again thx for the fantastic responses.

Brian

When you say ONE of the wires, what were you measuring it against (machine chassis ?) You would normally meter across the TWO wires (set meter to AC volts).
The metering I suggested in post 4 should show up an open (duff) coil.

 

[bg109685]

Hi Mike, et al,

Thx for the advice and guidance.

I have an OC coil and have ordered a replacement contactor from fleabay which should be arriving early next week.

As I expected, you haven't let me down and I hope to be up and running this time next week.

Many thanks

Brian

 

[mike 109444]

Keep us updated

 

[bg109685]

Hi Mike, et al,

Contactor arrived yesterday, fitted it (had to modify the T1/T2 connection bars, which was a bit of a bind) and eureka the Mig's alive!!!

The irony is that I'm rebuilding an old fibreglass car and only using the Mig for tool making, etc. but it so handy to have about.

Guys, thanks a million...

Brian

 

[mike 109444]

Result
And thanks for keeping the post up dated.