Voltage select switch puzzle

[normspanners]

Also is your switch segmented ----IE strip it either get new segment or swap them around to lose the bottom end number 1 volt setting maybe?

 

[johnrev]

It was a while back but first time I found this site was when I got the Britweld and the problem was the wiring loom to the switch was burned up and the switch was siezed. I took it apart (never having seen one before) and ended up with a lap full of bits and no idea how it was supposed to go back together. You guys kindly gave me some nudges in the right direction and eventually I managed to get up and running. Was fine for a while but soon started 'crunching' and grinding when turned again. The innards were in a poorish state even after cleaning. The years had taken their toll.

The main power switch is also well burned and corroded and often needed a tap to turn on so have got a replacement for this too.

I've ordered the Amazon selector switch which (fingers crossed) will be a doddle to swap over. That being the case I'll pull the old one apart again and have a gander inside. If it looks salvageable it can stay as backup in case the chinese replacement suffers the famous durability problems of stuff from that part of the world. It's rated at 25amps at 380volts

The new switch was about £8 delivered so not expecting too much but I doubt I could get a single segment of the original for that money and from memory there were a few very poorly looking contacts in it.

I'll let you know how successful the new switch is and what the quality looks like.

 

[the snooper]

It was a while back but first time I found this site was when I got the Britweld and the problem was the wiring loom to the switch was burned up and the switch was siezed. I took it apart (never having seen one before) and ended up with a lap full of bits and no idea how it was supposed to go back together. You guys kindly gave me some nudges in the right direction and eventually I managed to get up and running. Was fine for a while but soon started 'crunching' and grinding when turned again. The innards were in a poorish state even after cleaning. The years had taken their toll.

The main power switch is also well burned and corroded and often needed a tap to turn on so have got a replacement for this too.

I've ordered the Amazon selector switch which (fingers crossed) will be a doddle to swap over. That being the case I'll pull the old one apart again and have a gander inside. If it looks salvageable it can stay as backup in case the chinese replacement suffers the famous durability problems of stuff from that part of the world. It's rated at 25amps at 380volts

The new switch was about £8 delivered so not expecting too much but I doubt I could get a single segment of the original for that money and from memory there were a few very poorly looking contacts in it.

I'll let you know how successful the new switch is and what the quality looks like.

that's a good price, one on ebay 6 position specifically for a welder was 72 quid

 

[rtbcomp]

The switches don't have such a hard time as you might think - they're not carrying any current when the contacts open or close (unless you switch whilst actually welding).

 

[eSCHEn]

You got a link to the one on Amazon John?

 

[johnrev]

Not sure if this will work but should be the url of the page-http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008DG9KVS/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1#productDetails

 

[eSCHEn]

Spot on John worked great thanks

Gonna see if they do a six way which would be perfect but if not I can live with two too many

 

[johnrev]

They did have a small range of similar switches so have a look at their Amazon pages- you may find what you need. Good luck

 

[mike 109444]

Spot on John worked great thanks

Gonna see if they do a six way which would be perfect but if not I can live with two too many

Or you could set the extras as OFF, 1, 2, 3, OFF, 4, 5, 6 then back to off. Gives an easy to find OFF and would look better balanced than 1 to 6 then offs

 

[johnrev]

Just a thought eSCHEn- Are you sure your machine has a simple set of tappings to select voltage. I know some use a combination which is not so
straightforward. Remember reading a post which Mike answered and sorted where a Sealey welder selector switch needed wiring. He walked the guy through all the steps to sort it out (patience of a saint) and the wiring configuration of this was more complicated than a simple set of steps I think.

Found link to the pages- http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/sealey-170-1-voltage-control-switch.35966/

Might be worth checking how your voltage selection works before buying a switch. Sorry if you have already got this sussed but thought I'd mention just in case.

 

[eSCHEn]

Nope, no idea if what I'm planning will work or not. Given the price of them is a tenner or so I was just gonna get one and see how far I could get

Patience of a saint doesn't begin to describe Mike, he's helped me before and the man's an absolute hero

Hope your switch works out!

 

[mike 109444]

Nope, no idea if what I'm planning will work or not. Given the price of them is a tenner or so I was just gonna get one and see how far I could get

Patience of a saint doesn't begin to describe Mike, he's helped me before and the man's an absolute hero

Hope your switch works out!

Thanks for that
Don't think you will be able to use a 1 pole 6 way because as Rtbcomp (post 5) yours does not have a common line.
Yours may have one of these two combinations of switching. You will need to sus which before you can select a suitable switch.
Probley a 2 pole 6 way or 3 pole 6 way

 

[the snooper]

Thanks for that
Don't think you will be able to use a 1 pole 6 way because as Rtbcomp (post 5) yours does not have a common line.
Yours may have one of these two combinations of switching. You will need to sus which before you can select a suitable switch.
Probley a 2 pole 6 way or 3 pole 6 way

it would be a 2 pole 6 way with the neutral alternating between high and low over each of the 6 positions ie.

-----------live----neutral
position 1 min - low
position 2 min - high
position 3 med - low
position 4 med - high
position 5 max - low
position 6 max - high

 

[eSCHEn]

Thanks both for the info. You're quite right, it does have three settings plus a min/max button. Wiring diagram looks like fun to decipher

I'll make sure to get a two pole and a bottle of thinking rum

 

[normspanners]

Dont get Jamaican then!!

 

[johnrev]

New switch arrived in good time and looks reasonably beefy but felt dreadful when I turned it- graunched and jammed as bad as the old one.
Decided I'd risk taking it apart just to be sure everything was ok and.....it wasn't.
Seems to be made of a thermosetting plastic a bit like 'bacolite' and one segment has broken. A complete ring of plastic was in pieces inside and causing the probs.
Sent a report and pics via Amazon to the seller last night and had a reply this morning. They offered to refund the cost which was pretty fair but I really want a switch so have asked if it can be replaced instead.
I'll wait and see what they say.

 

[eSCHEn]

Gutted John

Good idea to test it before use as that would have fouled the whole job up. Hope your replacement one turns up quickly.

 

[normspanners]

Was that NEW??
doesn't look like!

 

[mike 109444]

I'd say it's had a bump on the knob shaft !! (in transit?)

 

[Rig Pig]

I'd say it's had a bump on the knob shaft !! (in transit?)

Ooerrr sounds painful!