sealey solar mask issue

[scannerzer]

Firstly I'm new to the forum and enjoying it muchley!

My problem is with a clearview mask,pwh599

sometimes when I start welding the visor dosen't darken and I get a big flash,do mask's work in artificial light for charging as my shed is quite dark
or could it be faulty.I have it set a 11 and when it work's it's fine.

If it is because there ain't enough natural light has anyone fitted a battery to one and disconnected the solar

TIA

Eddie

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Does it have a manual/ auto switch, if it does put it on manual and try changing the sensitivity pot to see if that helps.
What sort of amps are you welding at?

 

[scannerzer]

no no manual switch just delay and sensativity switches, not too sure about the current,it's a 150 amp sealey supermig and it's on max on both switches
wire speed at about 7 so pretty much flat out.

i'm building a trike and welding 3mmx42 pipe

 

[ibrooks]

How old is the mask? It sounds to me like the batteries are on their way out and don't hold enough charge from one welding session to the next to make the change until you've given them an initial charge by welding for a few seconds. They ALL have batteries but they are usually considered a lifetime part and when they go dud you replace the whole cartridge (the auto-darkening bit). The batteries are charged by the solar cells.

Do you find that if you use it regularly the problem doesn't crop up but if you've not used it for a while it's almost guaranteed to happen? Try leaving the mask face up on a windowsill when not using it and see if it "cures" the problem. If it does then it hasn't actually cured the problem but identified it as dud batteries but it should get you a few more weeks of use whilst you sort a proper cure. Eventually even leaving it somewhere light won't be enough and you'll also find it switching off mid-weld.

Sometimes you can split the cartridge and replace them. Sometimes you can get a new cartridge for your mask. More often than not a new cartridge is only a pound or two cheaper than a new mask.

Iain

 

[scannerzer]

Thanks for the replies

the mask is about 7 years old and yes what you describe is exactly how it happen's Iain so I guess it's of to ebay to get one of those cheap mask's i see on there

thanks again

eddie