Kemppi Minarc evo 180 suddenly lost its open circuit voltage.
Hi! My trusty EVO 180 kicked the bucket today during my construction project. The fault is strange; it powers on, controls work but I can't get any rod to start without filing the rod tip to bare metal and touch bright metal on the workpiece. Once I get the arc going it will weld just like before but starting is painful. Feels like the open circuit output voltage is nowhere near 90 VDC.
Also the welder makes clicking or ticking noise if I short the output hard which it has not made before.
I know my way around power inverters and have built solid state tesla coils and induction heaters but never opened up a Kemppi welder. I am looking for suggestions what to test or expect to find.
AI: Did anything unusual happen right before the welder started acting up—like a power surge, overload, drop, or any other event that might have triggered the issue?
It was welding perfectly normal the day before. I put it away in storage and next day it started acting up.
AI: Have you noticed any error codes, warning lights, odd smells, or visible damage (like burn marks) on the welder, either inside or out?
Nothing out of the ordinary. Have not yet opened up the unit.
Hi! My trusty EVO 180 kicked the bucket today during my construction project. The fault is strange; it powers on, controls work but I can't get any rod to start without filing the rod tip to bare metal and touch bright metal on the workpiece. Once I get the arc going it will weld just like before but starting is painful. Feels like the open circuit output voltage is nowhere near 90 VDC.
Also the welder makes clicking or ticking noise if I short the output hard which it has not made before.
I know my way around power inverters and have built solid state tesla coils and induction heaters but never opened up a Kemppi welder. I am looking for suggestions what to test or expect to find.
AI: Did anything unusual happen right before the welder started acting up—like a power surge, overload, drop, or any other event that might have triggered the issue?
It was welding perfectly normal the day before. I put it away in storage and next day it started acting up.
AI: Have you noticed any error codes, warning lights, odd smells, or visible damage (like burn marks) on the welder, either inside or out?
Nothing out of the ordinary. Have not yet opened up the unit.
