Gunslinger 260 problem?

Sounds like you have a bad circuit. Gunslingers are really tough machines, but any machine can blow a circuit. Find your local welding repair shop and ask them to diagnose it.

My local Airgas place is 50 miles away and has never even seen a Panasonic. 250 miles to Portland, where they atleast admit such a thing exists.

As an Electrical Eng>>

answer to the

The open circuit voltage at the torch head should track the power supply setting. It should be the same voltage as at the machine terminals. Why wouldn't it be? There's nothing but a copper cable between them. The only possible way the voltage could differ here would be due to a high resistance, probably a poor connection, or maybe a nearly broken welding cable. But if that were the case, the torch reading would be lower than the reading at the machine.

If the torch head voltage is high, then the power supply voltage must be high, and if it can't be adjusted by the front panel control, that means the voltage regulating circuitry in the power supply is very likely fried.

MIG power supplies are constant voltage supplies. That means they have a voltage regulator in them. That regulator's voltage set point is adjustable by a panel mounted control over a range of about 16 volts to maybe 33 volts. Now it is possible that the regulator needs a load on it in order to function. That's kind of rare these days, but it is possible. A load that draws a few amps should be sufficient to test that theory. An ordinary 100 watt light bulb would do as a test load.

Gary

I had already started looking for the parts to hookup a 100W bulb. I'm measuring the voltage at the feed rollers, and it's 39.9 regardless of adjustment. I'll see what the load does...thanks.

The circuit board looks pretty low-tech, so I'm th>MIG power supplies are constant voltage supplies. That means they have a

good. It just doesn't short circuit weld smoothly, no matter what settings I use. It spatters, arcs, drips, you name it.

answer to the

The Gunslinger can be changed by swapping the cable connection points. The gun is + right now, which I think is right...

The gun is + right now, which I think is right... >etc. are all

I have an Oscilloscope, but I haven't pulled out the big gun yet. My manual includes a schematic, but it doesn't include the control board, which is pretty much everything but the transfromer and a few SCRs. I've verified the control knobs work reasonably at the board connection, but I guess I'll wait to make contact with Panasonic tomorrow.

My meter can indicate AC components which it didn't.

I've already downloaded all the datasheets for the components used on the board, so if I can't buy/borrow/steal a schematic, I guess I'll start tracing etch. The board appears to be mostly linear components, which on one hand can be pretty straight-forward, but on the other, can include downright diabolical designs ;-)

answer to the

Looks like a perfect time for a data logging scope or voltmeter. Put at the inside (if possible) connection to the cable or just to the posts. Then log the tip end trying to do controlled loading.

Just a thought. Maybe you have a DRANTZ logger. Hum. I suspect the earlier comment - high impedance (1.0 ohm not .001 ohm) at the binding post or in the gun. Maybe the cable itself (one or the other) was twisted so much that strands broke. Try a physical feel down the cable for discontinuity. TDR anyone ? :-)

Martin

...lots of good answers. The Gunslinger 260 is a multiprocess machine (all models?). I'm wondering if you've overlooked the obvious and have it in constant current mode (CC) or else the switch/circuit that changes modes is bad?

I'll check the switch. It's two pole, and maybe the "logic" pole is bad.

It turns out that the torch voltage is only proper while an arc is drawn, so all the measurements so far are irrelevant. I'm taking the whole thing into town tomorrow where an Airgas guy will meet me to see if it's just my imagination...