pjt
30th December 2013, 12:51 AM
Hi all,
Youtube is to blame, build your own spot welder, Ah OK I could do with one of those, lets have a look, mmm OK seems all that is needed is a transformer out of a microwave, plus a few other bits, tip shop yielded a prime example for $5, thought it best not to utilize the one in the kitchen:;, so today I set about pulling the sec winding out and sqeezed in 3 turns of some heavy welding cable, I could have made it easier by removing the outer layer of insulation but a nice tight fit seems to be the go, I could have also removed the shunts but at this point I left them in.
Testing with 240v straight onto the primary gave me a tad over 3 volts on the secondary (no load) and I had about 5 or so amps on the primary (no load) so with an ideal tranny I should get about 400 amps which should be enough to bzzzzzt a couple sheets together, this will be about all the cable will handle anyway for 2 or 3 secs of on time.
Get to the question..... I placed a bit of thin weld wire across the output expecting it to heat up quickly or at least get a few sparks, nope nothing didn't even get warm, yep turned on, yep 240 yep 3 yep humming quietly and yet nothing, I wanted to see some hot wire at least:(:~
What could be the cause?
Maybe I completely mashed the cable as I was bashing it a bit flatter? Nah, I didn't hit it that hard, just flattened it a bit.
As I understand the shunts are there to limit current so maybe that's it,
Maybe all my flux has leaked off and not inducing anything in the secondary,
Ahh I know maybe I need to wind it the other way, it is just a basic E I type so the direction doesn't seem to matter,
at this point I after suggestions....
I still blame youtube:roll:
Cheers all
Pete
Youtube is to blame, build your own spot welder, Ah OK I could do with one of those, lets have a look, mmm OK seems all that is needed is a transformer out of a microwave, plus a few other bits, tip shop yielded a prime example for $5, thought it best not to utilize the one in the kitchen:;, so today I set about pulling the sec winding out and sqeezed in 3 turns of some heavy welding cable, I could have made it easier by removing the outer layer of insulation but a nice tight fit seems to be the go, I could have also removed the shunts but at this point I left them in.
Testing with 240v straight onto the primary gave me a tad over 3 volts on the secondary (no load) and I had about 5 or so amps on the primary (no load) so with an ideal tranny I should get about 400 amps which should be enough to bzzzzzt a couple sheets together, this will be about all the cable will handle anyway for 2 or 3 secs of on time.
Get to the question..... I placed a bit of thin weld wire across the output expecting it to heat up quickly or at least get a few sparks, nope nothing didn't even get warm, yep turned on, yep 240 yep 3 yep humming quietly and yet nothing, I wanted to see some hot wire at least:(:~
What could be the cause?
Maybe I completely mashed the cable as I was bashing it a bit flatter? Nah, I didn't hit it that hard, just flattened it a bit.
As I understand the shunts are there to limit current so maybe that's it,
Maybe all my flux has leaked off and not inducing anything in the secondary,
Ahh I know maybe I need to wind it the other way, it is just a basic E I type so the direction doesn't seem to matter,
at this point I after suggestions....
I still blame youtube:roll:
Cheers all
Pete