Welder help,Please!!!

[brans72]

OK guys I know some might think this belongs in body shop but I know it will get more traffic here! I got a free Fire power fp120 2002 model from Thermodyne with cart,tank and gauge from this guy I work for on my days off. The welder was in a fire but did not get burnt up,instead got soaked by water from sprinklers. I am trying to figure out what part inside might be the cause that I get no spark from it when it is running. Unit powers up,The Voltage knob seems to work,and wire speed works. So anyone wanna try to help me out? Thanks Brandon

[justasquid]

Might be a problem with the transformer. But, over the internet diagnostics may be hard. Since everything got wet, just about anything could be the issue. Could be simple and cheap, may be complex and expensive.

I think you may have better luck joining a welders forum and asking the question there. Im sure a general tech section would be the best place to ask. At the very least, Im sure they could offer things to rule out.

One thing to look at is to check and see if any connections are rusted. If they are, it may just be an issue of unplugging everything, cleaning and plugging things back in.

[MrQuick]

man, if there was any water damage I would not even plug it in. Never know if something is grounded and could kill you.

Unless your an electrician I'd toss it.
Vince

[MonzaRacer]

call thermadyne, they can give you a number to local welding supply store and have it sent in for proper repair or at least get a proper diagram.
I found parts list turns out there is a circuit board inside it may be bad, here is manual ,also make sure all connections are clean and not corroded. here is link to manual :http://www.thermadyne.com/IM_Uploads/DocLib_2644_56-1842.pdf

[John Wright]

check the contactor....when you trigger it, does it click?(can you tell if the contactor is pulling in)....I would start there first, and then once you verify that is working then check the power at the contact tip(voltage/amperage).

[brans72]

John mind explaining more? I do not here a clicking to my knowledge but will recheck. Thanks for help so far guys. Oh water damage was done 2 yrs ago so had time to dry out.

[John Wright]

The contactor takes low voltage input(from the trigger) and pulls in a solenoid to pull in the welding current...a set of heavy contact points. You need to find a schematic on that machine...it will show you where the main contactor is located within the machine.

If you aren't to electrical savy...take it down to your local welding supply house, they should be able to tell you what is wrong and give you an estimate of what it might cost to repair it or give you a cost on the parts so that you can repair it without incurring their shop labor rate. At least you wouldn't be guessing at what parts to purchase and replace.....could be the circuit board has a bad spot from the water sitting on it for awhile....hard to say.

[novaderrik]

my welder- a 120 volt Miller- did the same thing once. the voltage knob has a "purge" setting on it, and it got stuck on that setting even tho the knob was turned away from it. but it wasn't truly in the "purge" setting ,because it would kick out wire along with the gas, but no voltage to the wire.
i accidentally fixed it by cranking the knob back and forth a few times..

[brans72]

Got a spark going!!!! Welder is working now just trying to figure out a few flaws in it. First gotta get the right tips,ones from hobart are a little different. Second I got wire kinked up and fixed that but then noticed the wire feed wheel was in wrong spot for 24 wire, so I flipped it around and got wire feeding but then it seem to stop and can't get it going back right. Any ideas on on #2??? I know the wheel that feeds the wire says0.8 on one side and 0.6 on the other. I use my welder with wire 24 and 30 for what I do with it. I wanna thank every one for tips!!!
The fix was clean everything I could which was good start but I started looking and some did not have the neg and postive hooked up correctly and guess trying to rip my friend off. I feel good I got a deal and few bugs sure I am going to have to figure out. Should I feel bad for getting such a good deal?? The welder set over least a year and the old guy is good guy and slowly dying needs kidney along few other thing which I hate to see in his face when I work for him on the side and has always treated me fair 150%. Brandon