HELP!!New to me plasma cutter Not working

[blackhawkdriver]

So I just got this plasma cutter from a buddy for 350 bucks and a welding job. Its an ESAB PCM875. Seems to be a very robust unit. He has never used it because doesn't have 220V in his house. I have my welder plugged up on a 50 amp circuit in the garage and was planning on using that plug for the plasma. So I opened it up and looked to make sure everything looked to be in order, went to Lowes picked up a plug and tried to fire it up. Got a whole lotta nothing. Not even a click. Checked the plug and its wired exactly like the instructions say and internally its wired for 230v. There is an alternate wiring scheme for 208v but I don't know if this is whats in my house. I changed the fuse out and still nothing you guys got any ideas? I'm no electrician so anything is possible. As i understand it my house is wired 240v single phase not 3 phase or 208v right? I live in Tennessee if that helps. Here the unit:



This is the plug for my welder I put the same type on the plasma and wired it per the instructions.

 

[nehog]

Which one do you have:

P/N 0558001167 - 208/230 V, 50/60 Hz, 1 or 3-phase
P/N 0558001169 - 460 V, 50/60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001170 - 575 V, 60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001171 - 400 V, 50/60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001172 - 230 V, 50 Hz, CE, 3-phase

BTW, if this is the single phase model, it draws 49 amps.

 

[pattenp]

So.. no green light or fan coming on when you flip on the power switch?

 

[Professur]

Did you check the breaker? I've seen stupider things than a breaker popping when something was unplugged.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Have you got air hooked to the unit. They have to have air pressure to activate them in cutting mode. My Lincoln requires 80 lbs with a lot of flow before it will come on.

 

[McFarmer]

I had a similar unit, there were contact points that would get corroded and nothing would happen if you hit the trigger.

 

[Strouty]

My guess is you have a three phase unit.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

Which one do you have:

P/N 0558001167 - 208/230 V, 50/60 Hz, 1 or 3-phase
P/N 0558001169 - 460 V, 50/60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001170 - 575 V, 60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001171 - 400 V, 50/60 Hz, 3-phase
P/N 0558001172 - 230 V, 50 Hz, CE, 3-phase

BTW, if this is the single phase model, it draws 49 amps.

The number on the sticker on top is P/N 954884-C. The instruction booklet says that it will run on single or three phase power.

So.. no green light or fan coming on when you flip on the power switch?

Nothing happening at all

Did you check the breaker? I've seen stupider things than a breaker popping when something was unplugged.

Checked the breakers then plugged the welder back up to check if that was a problem but no issues there at all.

Have you got air hooked to the unit. They have to have air pressure to activate them in cutting mode. My Lincoln requires 80 lbs with a lot of flow before it will come on.

I have not hooked air up to it yet I was just trying to see if the power would come on. And it doesn't make so much as a click or a light coming on when you flip the switch. I guess I'll try hooking air up to it tomorrow to see if that helps. I figured the power light should at least illuminate.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

Have you got air hooked to the unit. They have to have air pressure to activate them in cutting mode. My Lincoln requires 80 lbs with a lot of flow before it will come on.

I actually found a video just now of a guy with the same unit that started, no problems without any air hooked up.

 

[slip knot]

Did you check the wiring inside the unit. if it will run on either single or three phase there will be a set of jumpers on the inside that need to be changed. Probably set for 208V3ph.

 

[nehog]

The number on the sticker on top is P/N 954884-C. ...

Look for another number (perhaps one that matches the ones I posted. The number you give is the number for the label itself, not the unit. I'm beginning to think it is 3-phase. A 3-phase unit will shut down if one phase is missing.

 

[welder4956]

From the instruction manual:

http://edgewh.esabna.com/literature/Plasma%20Equipment/Cutting%20Packages%20-%20Systems/Manual%20(ONLY)%20Cutting%20Packages/Domestic/PCM-875_Series%20A_F-15-605-D.pdf

5.7 Troubleshooting GUIDE
A. Power Light (PL1) does not come on.
1. Visually inspect the machine for any damage.
2 . Check if the cooling fan is running. If not, then check the following :
a. Check if the machine power cord is plugged to the input power receptacle.
b. Measure the input power at the receptacle. If not present, then check the wall disconnect switch and it’s
fuses.
c. Check Fuse (F1). If fuse is ok, then check the input circuit breaker (CB1) for proper operation. Replace if defective.
3 . If above items check OK , the problem is internal. Send unit to an Authorized Repair Station for repair.
a. If the cooling fan is running, then measure voltage between pins P2-11 and P2-14 of the control board
(should be 115 VAC). If there is no voltage, then replace transformer T2.
b. If the voltage is present, then the pilot light may be burnt out.

 

[tjb836]

Look on page 22 of the manual listed in the last post. It uses the black and white for hot and red is taped up and not used.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

From the instruction manual:

http://edgewh.esabna.com/literature/Plasma%20Equipment/Cutting%20Packages%20-%20Systems/Manual%20(ONLY)%20Cutting%20Packages/Domestic/PCM-875_Series%20A_F-15-605-D.pdf

5.7 Troubleshooting GUIDE
A. Power Light (PL1) does not come on.
1. Visually inspect the machine for any damage.
2 . Check if the cooling fan is running. If not, then check the following :
a. Check if the machine power cord is plugged to the input power receptacle.
b. Measure the input power at the receptacle. If not present, then check the wall disconnect switch and it’s
fuses.
c. Check Fuse (F1). If fuse is ok, then check the input circuit breaker (CB1) for proper operation. Replace if defective.
3 . If above items check OK , the problem is internal. Send unit to an Authorized Repair Station for repair.
a. If the cooling fan is running, then measure voltage between pins P2-11 and P2-14 of the control board
(should be 115 VAC). If there is no voltage, then replace transformer T2.
b. If the voltage is present, then the pilot light may be burnt out.

Went through those steps today it seems its just broken. After that I took it to a Welding and the guy there laid the bad news on me. Turns out these things are notorious for the boards repeatedly going out on great cost to their owners. He even had a couple dead ones sitting in his shop. So instead of sending it in to possibly get fixed unreliably and definitely get charged some money I'm just going to get my money back from the guy that sold it to me. I'll just try to find a Hypertherm (what I really want) on craigslist for a reasonable price. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[wrench409]

Went through those steps today it seems its just broken. After that I took it to a Welding and the guy there laid the bad news on me. Turns out these things are notorious for the boards repeatedly going out on great cost to their owners. He even had a couple dead ones sitting in his shop. So instead of sending it in to possibly get fixed unreliably and definitely get charged some money I'm just going to get my money back from the guy that sold it to me. I'll just try to find a Hypertherm (what I really want) on craigslist for a reasonable price. Thanks for all the help guys.

Thanks! Good to know. While a PC is nice, when you just want heat for bending a, standard torch is nice. I just keep my old tank torch set and forgo a PC bargain.