LS200PI TIG pulse current question

[arandall]

The user manual for the 200PI unit states the following for setting base, and pulse current settings for TIG welding - "PULSE ON/OFF SWITCH: Enables pulsed AC and DC TIG welding. Pulse welding is an advanced welding
technique that allows fine control over the welding process. Pulse Mode gives the same effect as quickly
moving the Base current knob back and forth between a low and high amp setting, at a rate that would be
impossible to do by hand. To set the high and low pulse currents, first set the Pulse current knob full left, then
set the desired base current (low amperage) using the Base current knob. The digital display will show the amp
setting. Next use the Pulse current control to set the high amperage of the high pulse cycle. As you turn the
Pulse current control to the right, the amperage on the digital display will increase, showing your pulse peak
amps."
On my machine, adjusting the base current machine causes a corresponding change in the digital display, but adjustding the pulse current has no effect on the display. Are all the machines this way, or is mine defective?

Thanks,
Art R.

[jonesg]

The user manual for the 200PI unit states the following for setting base, and pulse current settings for TIG welding - "PULSE ON/OFF SWITCH: Enables pulsed AC and DC TIG welding. Pulse welding is an advanced welding
technique that allows fine control over the welding process. Pulse Mode gives the same effect as quickly
moving the Base current knob back and forth between a low and high amp setting, at a rate that would be
impossible to do by hand. To set the high and low pulse currents, first set the Pulse current knob full left, then
set the desired base current (low amperage) using the Base current knob. The digital display will show the amp
setting. Next use the Pulse current control to set the high amperage of the high pulse cycle. As you turn the
Pulse current control to the right, the amperage on the digital display will increase, showing your pulse peak
amps."
On my machine, adjusting the base current machine causes a corresponding change in the digital display, but adjustding the pulse current has no effect on the display. Are all the machines this way, or is mine defective?

Thanks,
Art R.

The machine is more capable than the person writing directions, theres so many variables and the directions aren't meant to be a how to weld book.
I went through this and its worth learning the in and outs of getting the pulse settings down, it really works good on thin alum.

So try this, I set mine as follws,
first turn machine to AC, 2T, Tig ,and pulse on.
Turn ALL the rotary dials to the left (off).

First adjust your BASE current Knob for the low amps, try around 30 amps.

Now adjust the PULSE CURRENT and make sure it goes HIGHER than the BASE current, otherwise its backward and the readings will fluctuate.

Then set Pulse Freq at approx 12 o clock
and Pulse width at 1 o'clock.

That is a good setting for 1/16th alum.
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With Pulse turned off the Base current is the total output amps of the machine, but when Pulse is turned ON the Base current dial is the low end of the pulse and the Pulse Current becomes the upper end of the output amps. Clear as mud ?

[arandall]

Jonesg:
Thanks for the reply. I think I understand the basic theory. From your response then, it sounds like adjusting the base current knob does cause a corresponding change on the display. With my machine this does not happen. I'll try again today.

Cheers,
Art R.

---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:46 PM ----------

I think I found my problem. When doing the set-up, initially I had the pulse width set fully ccw to zero. I guess it makes sense that with this set to zero, the pulse current would also be zero, regardless of where you set the current knob. With the pulse width turned up a bit, adjusting the pulse current knob does cause a corresponding change in the display.

Just another example of having to be smarter than the machine (and user manual) you're operating I guess.

Now I have to rush right back out to my shop because I forgot to turn off the valve on the argon bottle. - Getting old I guess.

Cheers,
Art R.

[jonesg]

I found it helpfull to set aside some time just to twiddle the dials , don't expect to start welding on pulse until you've found how to adjust the dials and then write down some basic settings that you can always dial in first.
Pulse is great for thin alum and working without a pedal.

[tigqk]

Don't use it with the pedal to start out.