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EUREKA! - still need little Welder help? ...(Updated)

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:54 pm
by Dedicated_Dad
After cleaning the board, and going over everything, I noticed some numbers on the side of the trimmer, under all the shellac or whatever was sealing it. I scraped off the gunk so I could read it, and a quick search later I found it!

Problem is that I found the manufacturer, who sells them in 500-unit boxes. We need 2.

According to this document, it's a CT-9EX, add the rest of the info in the file and I believe the part number is "CT-9EX50k (503)"
and (for the other one) "CT-9EX10k (103)"

Look at the PDF and you'll see what I mean.

I can't find them for sale anywhere.

Any and all help to locate aplace where I could buy 2ea would be VERY helpful!!

Thanks again...

DD
==========================================================

EDIT: New info...

The model is "BlueStar 180B

I looked through the manual they sent him - I BELIEVE it's the same as the one here.

Ive attached a pic of the board, with red arrows pointing to the screws on the potentiometer.
comp.board-close.jpg
R1 seems ok. It's marked "x103 OC" and the parts adds the note "Potentiometer, cermet trmr 25/T .5w 10k ohm"

R2 is the dead one. It's marked "x503 OD" and the parts list adds the note: "Potentiometer, cermet trmr 25/T .5w 50k ohm"

Also available are:
(1) The PDF assembly diagram (Panel.components.diagram.pdf) with a close-up of the board, sorry to say the board looks different but the 2 potentiometers are the same.
(2) PDF of Page 1 of the part list to said diagram, where I got the "R1/R2" Info above
(3) PDF of Page 2 of the part list.

The full manual for the tool is available also at (To be added as soon as he sends it to me).

Mackat said try this link
I'm sure one of those would work, but I'm boggled if I know how to go about finding the right one.
Looks like I may need to know the pinout, huh? A pic of the bottom?

Can anyone help?

DD
======================================================
A friend has a propane powered miller 180 welder.

It's dead.

On the circuit board there are two blue "cubes" with a very small adjusting screw - we believe they are resistors - which appear burned. Testing across the legs of them with an ohmmeter, we find one of them gives resistance which changes with turn of the screw. The other is dead, not even showing continuity.

The dead one reads "X503" and "OD" - Google fails me utterly when I search for the component. He'd like to first buy the component and switch it out. Any idea where he might find such a thing?

He's looked all over for the board assembly, only finding one place which asserts they will rebuild yours for $300. They will not even test yours before working on it, therefore he cannot be sure the board is the problem, and he doesn't want to shell out $300 for nothing.

Do any of you know of a place where he could find the component, or the complete board assembly? Alternatively, do you know of any place that might test his for a small fee and tell him if it's defective?

Thanks...

DD
comp.board-close.jpg

Re: Welder help? Electronics types?

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:03 pm
by Rich
Pix would help DD. The 503 could indicate 50 Kilohms, or maybe not. Any and all markings, even a company name would help.

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:26 am
by Dedicated_Dad
EDIT: New info...

The model is "BlueStar 180B

I looked through the manual they sent him - I BELIEVE it's the same as the one here.

Ive attached a pic of the board, with red arrows pointing to the screws on the potentiometer.
comp.board-close.jpg
R1 seems ok. It's marked "x103 OC" and the parts adds the note "Potentiometer, cermet trmr 25/T .5w 10k ohm"

R2 is the dead one. It's marked "x503 OD" and the parts list adds the note: "Potentiometer, cermet trmr 25/T .5w 50k ohm"

Also available are:
(1) The PDF assembly diagram (Panel.components.diagram.pdf) with a close-up of the board, sorry to say the board looks different but the 2 potentiometers are the same.
(2) PDF of Page 1 of the part list to said diagram, where I got the "R1/R2" Info above
(3) PDF of Page 2 of the part list.

The full manual for the tool is available also at this link.

Mackat said try this link
I'm sure one of those would work, but I'm boggled if I know how to go about finding the right one.
Looks like I may need to know the pinout, huh? A pic of the bottom?

Can anyone help?

DD
======================================================
comp.board-close.jpg

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:25 am
by Combat Controller
Bring the board to Radio Shack, that's a good bet to identify and get parts for the board.

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:35 am
by ButchS1066
Only advice I can offer is to buy spares when you're ordering parts. Whether or not you'll need them is directly related as to whether you have them on hand when you first apply power to the board after replacement. ;)

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:42 pm
by Fivetoes
Digi Key is a good place to look for the parts.
If the trim pots are burned up, there is a good chance that something else went belly up causing them to fail. Check both sides of the board real close looking for burned areas, especially around the semi conductors.

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:29 pm
by HTRN
It's almost certain that it's a linear potentiometer.

Mouser Electronics almost certainly stocks an appropriate replacement. Don't even bother with Radio Shack. What they carry these days is laughable.


HTRN

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:13 pm
by Rich
For those with elephantine memories, and age wrinkles to match, Allied Electronics (Used to be Allied Radio) is also available through Radio Shack, and you used to be able to buy parts there. A lot depends on how savvy the store manager is.

Also, I believe Newark Electronics is still in business.

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:49 pm
by Dedicated_Dad
R2 is the dead one.

It's marked "x503 OD" which may or may not be relevant.

The parts list in the manual lists the following info for the burnt one:
"Potentiometer, cermet trmr 25/T .5w 50k ohm
If I'm reading this right, it's a "cermet Trimmer", 25 turns, 1/2 watt, 50,000 Ohms.

Am I correct in my understanding that the resistance value is adjustable from 0 to 50,000 ohms by turning the little screw?

If so, it seems logical that one turn = 2,000 ohms resistance, yes?

The unit has three legs. Is it safe to assume that it can be replaced with any "cermet Trimmer, 25 turns, 1/2 watt, 50,000 Ohms."? I know we'll have to find out what the value of the resistor should be, and set it, but ... If this is indeed the problem, we should be golden, right?

DD

Re: Welder help? Electronics types? (Updated)

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:19 pm
by Dedicated_Dad
PS: If we use a different pot, same values but not identical, how can we be sure we're installing it right?

3 legs in a row, even spacing, thus it's possible to install upside-down...

DD