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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Had an unexpected moment this afternoon to get on and do this.

    Current clamp:
    IMG_3662.jpg

    Test setup, with scope and data logger:
    IMG_3661.jpg

    I decided to just freeze the waveform and measure, rather than try videoing.

    0% 4ms +ve 6ms -ve
    +10% 5ms +ve 5ms -ve
    -10% 3ms +ve 7ms -ve

    So the default is 40% cleaning
    +10% is 50% cleaning
    -10% is 30% cleaning.

    Which all makes sense, and they could have just said in the manual that the default cleaning is 40% and the balance control adjusts the cleaning percentage.

    I'll note again that on my machine at least, if you're using panel-set amps (not the pedal or torch control) changing the base amps will reset the balance to 0. Unimig claim this is a "feature".

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    205

    Default

    Great stuff - thanks.

    It does indeed make sense now and should have been in the manual. Perhaps it you let Unimig know they'll add it to the manual - they may not have known.

    Features are cheaper than bugs. Bugs have to be fixed, features don't.

    One question - what's with the daggy earth cable that you clamped to? Clamp opening limitation or another feature?

    Jack

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    The earth lead on the welder was way too thick to fit through the current clamp, so I went hunting around the workshop for something that could, but wouldn't turn into smoke if I accidentally wound up the current. First thing I came across was what I'd used for this:
    IMG_3600.jpg

    Where I'd splayed out the strands to maximise contact area.

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    205

    Default

    Good thinking - the clamps don't work when they are propped open.

    Thanks for taking the time - much appreciated.

    Jack

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RustyArc View Post
    0% 4ms +ve 6ms -ve
    +10% 5ms +ve 5ms -ve
    -10% 3ms +ve 7ms -ve

    So the default is 40% cleaning
    +10% is 50% cleaning
    -10% is 30% cleaning.

    Which all makes sense, and they could have just said in the manual that the default cleaning is 40% and the balance control adjusts the cleaning percentage.

    I'll note again that on my machine at least, if you're using panel-set amps (not the pedal or torch control) changing the base amps will reset the balance to 0. Unimig claim this is a "feature".

    Great data collection mate.
    That seems like a usable AC Balance window - albeit a bit cryptic to use in its 'out of the box' form.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Ryan View Post
    Great stuff - thanks.

    It does indeed make sense now and should have been in the manual. Perhaps it you let Unimig know they'll add it to the manual - they may not have known.
    From what I know of the industry, often the features packaged with a 3rd-party manufactured machine like this are often added in on a 'need-be' basis, based off where they want to position the machine in the market vs their cost price, and what cold be considered an 'unnecessary feature'.
    Having a calibrated output for ac balance is not impossible, but would probably increase their cost outside of what their target market would absorb, given other units out there. Or they are just not interested in it. might add $150 or more to the sell price, or may not even be specc'd for the board fitted to that particular machine (ie the manufacturer has their own machine tiers, with the goal of moving resellers of their machines UP through their range). It's interesting stuff. You see it a lot in these machines, it's an economic/marketing decision. I bet they never even put a scope on the machine before putting it to market, or the info was lost in translation between initial sell spec discussions and the deciphering of a poorly translated user guide book from chingrish to engrish by Jenny from marketing.

  6. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    205

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Commander_Keen View Post
    Great data collection mate.
    That seems like a usable AC Balance window - albeit a bit cryptic to use in its 'out of the box' form.

    From what I know of the industry, often the features packaged with a 3rd-party manufactured machine like this are often added in on a 'need-be' basis, based off where they want to position the machine in the market vs their cost price, and what cold be considered an 'unnecessary feature'.
    Having a calibrated output for ac balance is not impossible, but would probably increase their cost outside of what their target market would absorb, given other units out there. Or they are just not interested in it. might add $150 or more to the sell price, or may not even be specc'd for the board fitted to that particular machine (ie the manufacturer has their own machine tiers, with the goal of moving resellers of their machines UP through their range). It's interesting stuff. You see it a lot in these machines, it's an economic/marketing decision. I bet they never even put a scope on the machine before putting it to market, or the info was lost in translation between initial sell spec discussions and the deciphering of a poorly translated user guide book from chingrish to engrish by Jenny from marketing.
    I think it more likely a third party wrote the firmware so whoever wrote the manual didn't understand how it worked.

    The machine displays -10 to +10.

    RustyArc's good work tells us that the balance is 40% +/- 10%. All that is needed is for 40 to be added to the balance display resulting is a display of 30% to 50%. The cost of doing that would not register.

    I do understand that such a no cost feature might still be made an added cost option.

    Jack

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