The Home Machinist!

Craig's list is always a bad idea ....

So I bought a Miller Sr 150-32 three phase tig welder today , I gave $20 for it .
It's not a big machine @ 150 amps and it is constant currant dc only . and it does have a high frequency start

I am pretty sure my 15 hp phase converter is plenty big enough to power it

It didn't come with any leads so my first question is pretty simple .
Is there an easy way to check that the high frequency start is working before I start thinking about spending money on the thing .

Hook it up and weld with it. You'll know if the high frequency works as soon as you step on the pedal.......
Borrow a tank of argon from someone and keep the input wires short to save test expenses.

Bob

Oh if it was only that simple ... $20 doesn't buy a torch or leads or anything except the
Welder itself .

Sending power to the welder isn't an issue , I have plenty of wire for that .
I'd just like to be sure everything is working before I start buying a torch , leads , gas bottle ..etc etc etc .
I don't have the funds to buy everything at Once , it might take three or four months to round every thing I need up .

Did you get a foot pedal with it?

HF usually makes a sizzling sound, sort of like frying eggs, so if you can turn it on, listen.

LIALLEGHENY wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2018 6:50 am Did you get a foot pedal with it?

I had to laugh , no offense meant
But no there's no foot pedal. the fellow I got it from bought it explicitly for the foot pedal and all that paraphernalia, to be truthful I doubt I get that fancy with things if everything is kosher with the welder . I'll use it as a dc stick welder way more then as a tig . Well I say that now ....

A sizzling sound hmm ...

Post a pic of the front panel and it will be easy to tell you how to test it.

Just guessing without seeing it, If it has a switch for the high frequency make sure it is on, and flip the "Contactor" switch to "Remote. Power up the welder and just flip the "Contactor"switch to "Standard" for a second and you should hear the "sizzle"

I can do that ... and yes it has a switch for high frequency and the remote plugs .
I can wire it up for power easy enough and that brings up my next question .
The tag on the welder says it's dual voltage .. 240 / 480.
Would it be wired differently internally for 240 or 480?

Facing the front of the machine, the right side cover comes off to connect the power cord. There should be something in there about 240 or 480 hookup.

Sweet ... thank you for the help . I'll get the cover off after dinner .

Ok so .. re-wired for 240v and turned it on .
Powers up just fine , and while I can't hear the "sizzle " over the cooling fan I can see a spark jump the gap on the " points " so I feel pretty safe in assuming high frequency works just fine .
I think I'll go borrow a stinger and ground from my brothers welder and see how it does stick welding .

Sounds like it's working!