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Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

I bet you are pretty happy to have it working again. How many hours would you guess you have on the machine prior to the relay braking?

Not many. Probably three 125size bottles of argon? I'm a hobby welder. So I'll find a project, use it a bunch, then it'll sit for 6+ months until I find the next project. And for a while I would often use the miller at my local makerspace over this one simply because the space was nicer than my single bay garage at the apartment I used to rent. I really do like the AHP, no regrets at all buying it. It's perfect for the hobby level stuff I do.

It's unusual for a relay to die at that few cycles, but it is some no-name brand that I can't even find a data sheet for, which means it is a cheap part, but I expected that for this welder. It's not like it's a secret that they are built cheap to sell cheap. Likely I just got unlucky and got a bad one. New relay cost me all of $1 and maybe an hour of my time to tear down the machine, diagnose, pull the old one off, put the new one on, and reassemble the machine.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by cegan09

Figured I'd share in here as well.

Had my 2018 generation 200x stop recognizing the pedal was plugged in recently. I emailed AHP and they were really quick to respond and help me find at least the part that was broken. They said the front PCB with all the knobs was the issue, had spares to sell me since I'm out of warranty.

Since I work with PCBs as part of my day job I figured I'd take a closer look. Turns out there is a relay on there that does the switchover between pedal and no pedal. Pins 6+7 on the pedal connector complete the ground connection on the relay coil. Pulled the old relay off, put a new one on, works like a champ again.

Totally understand why AHP would stop at the point of replacing a whole board, don't know a single manufacturer out there that would have you poke at replacing individual components. But figure I'd share just in case someone else sees a similar failure in the future, this was a straight forward repair if you're handy with a soldering iron.

I bet you are pretty happy to have it working again. How many hours would you guess you have on the machine prior to the relay braking?

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Figured I'd share in here as well.

Had my 2018 generation 200x stop recognizing the pedal was plugged in recently. I emailed AHP and they were really quick to respond and help me find at least the part that was broken. They said the front PCB with all the knobs was the issue, had spares to sell me since I'm out of warranty.

Since I work with PCBs as part of my day job I figured I'd take a closer look. Turns out there is a relay on there that does the switchover between pedal and no pedal. Pins 6+7 on the pedal connector complete the ground connection on the relay coil. Pulled the old relay off, put a new one on, works like a champ again.

Totally understand why AHP would stop at the point of replacing a whole board, don't know a single manufacturer out there that would have you poke at replacing individual components. But figure I'd share just in case someone else sees a similar failure in the future, this was a straight forward repair if you're handy with a soldering iron.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

I had good luck calling them.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by EnderleFab

AHP Alpha TIG200X. I bought it off Amazon back in 2017, used it twice to try to weld TIG, decided I didn't need that much stress in my life at the time, and used it once again to stick weld. Then...it broke. Display only reads "002". Arc won't start. Like a Dumb ***, I put it in the corner of the shop and promptly forgot about it.
Now, being far more stress free at this time in my life, I figured why not fire up the rage again , and try to see if I can TIG weld this time. Tried firing it up again and it turns on, but age has not made it leave "002".

Question is...where can you send an out of warranty broken AHP welder for repairs? I've sent a message to AHP but figured if there was some other AHP guru out there, I'd see if there is an alternative.

Write the people at AHP. Call them. Dont dink around with it. Habe it fixed by them. Two three yr warranty…oooops. Their repair fcility might bee in tennassee….call them …

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Are you comfortable pulling the hood off and looking inside? There was a time when AHP would help with some trouble shooting tips, but I dont know how they are now with the older units. Hopefully they will answer your message and have some help to give.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

AHP Alpha TIG200X. I bought it off Amazon back in 2017, used it twice to try to weld TIG, decided I didn't need that much stress in my life at the time, and used it once again to stick weld. Then...it broke. Display only reads "002". Arc won't start. Like a Dumb ***, I put it in the corner of the shop and promptly forgot about it.
Now, being far more stress free at this time in my life, I figured why not fire up the rage again , and try to see if I can TIG weld this time. Tried firing it up again and it turns on, but age has not made it leave "002".

Question is...where can you send an out of warranty broken AHP welder for repairs? I've sent a message to AHP but figured if there was some other AHP guru out there, I'd see if there is an alternative.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by istemper

New to this forum but I've got a situation leaving me SOL. I bought a 2015 AlphaTIG200x used from a guy who used it twice over the last 6 years. He advertised that the foot pedal was broken and the welder tested fine ac and dc with the on/off hand switch. I bought it thinking the foot pedal was an easy fix or replacement.

After testing the foot pedal as per AHP's tech support document it looks like the pedal is fully functioning and the problem is with the welder. The foot pedal LED indicator doesn't come on and the digital display drops immediately when you plug the pedal in. Also gas flow is triggered by the pedal but no arc whatsoever.

AHP tech suspects a "knob board" problem and would have had me buy a new board BUT.... they are no longer available! So now my "only option" they say is to pay to ship it back and forth and be repaired in house for an estimated (possible) cost that basically has me paying almost the price of a new welder from them (ON TOP of what I payed for it already).

Is there anyone on this thread that could point me to finding a replacement board outside of contacting AHP? I know that's a long shot probably but I'm basically out of options and I bought the welder for aluminum more than anything else so without the possibility of using a foot pedal I'm pretty much up **** creek.

istemper - I have the same exact machine - bought used about 3-4 year ago - I had a board go/replace after purchase and a handful of uses - I feel your pain. Rather than go back through AHP - is there perhaps a local welding supply shop or repair that would offer a look into it first - I hope you didn't pay too much for it as at this time its 5 - 6 yr old model. I am not sure what you mean that welder tested fine ac and dc with the on/off hand switch but trust you had a solid test and feeling of function to purchase. does the finger trigger work for you when hooked up or same as foot pedal? any option to try out a different foot pedal to ensure it's not the pedal but the board? sorry to hear this - hope it works out for you somehow....

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by istemper

New to this forum but I've got a situation leaving me SOL. I bought a 2015 AlphaTIG200x used from a guy who used it twice over the last 6 years. He advertised that the foot pedal was broken and the welder tested fine ac and dc with the on/off hand switch. I bought it thinking the foot pedal was an easy fix or replacement.

After testing the foot pedal as per AHP's tech support document it looks like the pedal is fully functioning and the problem is with the welder. The foot pedal LED indicator doesn't come on and the digital display drops immediately when you plug the pedal in. Also gas flow is triggered by the pedal but no arc whatsoever.

AHP tech suspects a "knob board" problem and would have had me buy a new board BUT.... they are no longer available! So now my "only option" they say is to pay to ship it back and forth and be repaired in house for an estimated (possible) cost that basically has me paying almost the price of a new welder from them (ON TOP of what I payed for it already).

Is there anyone on this thread that could point me to finding a replacement board outside of contacting AHP? I know that's a long shot probably but I'm basically out of options and I bought the welder for aluminum more than anything else so without the possibility of using a foot pedal I'm pretty much up **** creek.

I have a suggestion, but the title excludes me from posting.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

New to this forum but I've got a situation leaving me SOL. I bought a 2015 AlphaTIG200x used from a guy who used it twice over the last 6 years. He advertised that the foot pedal was broken and the welder tested fine ac and dc with the on/off hand switch. I bought it thinking the foot pedal was an easy fix or replacement.

After testing the foot pedal as per AHP's tech support document it looks like the pedal is fully functioning and the problem is with the welder. The foot pedal LED indicator doesn't come on and the digital display drops immediately when you plug the pedal in. Also gas flow is triggered by the pedal but no arc whatsoever.

AHP tech suspects a "knob board" problem and would have had me buy a new board BUT.... they are no longer available! So now my "only option" they say is to pay to ship it back and forth and be repaired in house for an estimated (possible) cost that basically has me paying almost the price of a new welder from them (ON TOP of what I payed for it already).

Is there anyone on this thread that could point me to finding a replacement board outside of contacting AHP? I know that's a long shot probably but I'm basically out of options and I bought the welder for aluminum more than anything else so without the possibility of using a foot pedal I'm pretty much up **** creek.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by JHVA

Got a new 201xd (April 2020) just got around to using it for the first time. The foot pedal on 2T the arc continues after taking my foot off the pedal. Post flow works as it should. Same problem using trigger control 4T. Plugged into 110v outlet. The arc only stops after I pull away from the material. Anyone know what’s going on here? Do I have a bad board?

Write customer service. He has seen it all and will respond in a few hours.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by mechanic416

May be the pedal, seen a few of them were the rubber strip inside came lose and causes this. Also does it do the same thing when you use the trigger on 2T?

I vaguely remember Something like this maybe not. Is your ground bombproof?

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

May be the pedal, seen a few of them were the rubber strip inside came lose and causes this. Also does it do the same thing when you use the trigger on 2T?

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Got a new 201xd (April 2020) just got around to using it for the first time. The foot pedal on 2T the arc continues after taking my foot off the pedal. Post flow works as it should. Same problem using trigger control 4T. Plugged into 110v outlet. The arc only stops after I pull away from the material. Anyone know what’s going on here? Do I have a bad board?

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by xmmancharl

use 220 ac on all my welders...



Charl

Hi charl,
Thanks for responding to my newbie comments and questions. I was commenting based on the settings image you posted and i didnt check to see if we are using the same welder. Based on your main amp settings in your image, even if on 220ac, it would still be less than 100a. I read for 1/8” mild steel, the main amps shoukd be at least 120. I am using 3/32” tungsten. Thanks in advance.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

use 220 ac on all my welders...



Charl

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

#post8735317[/url][/QUOTE]

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Attachment 1709073

After laying out beads no filler, i started today with filler wire.

Referring back to my last post i realized that if i am running my machine on 110v, i must crank the main amps high enough or a sufficient weld puddle wont appear to dab filler , as a beginner...

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by xmmancharl

My settings for 1/8 steel...

Attachment 1709038

Charl

Thanks for posting this.

You are, I assume @110v.

So for working on mild steel, with NO PULSE, NO up or down slope, The only (2) knobs that we use is MAIN AMPS and POST FLOW- right?

The other thing I noticed today, and also noting in your settings for 1/8" steel that, ON MY MACHINE, at 110v my amperage readings are as follows:

AMP SETTING Reading

10 ----- 8

50 ----- 31

100 ----- 88

150 ----- 129

200 ----- 148


Is this accurate or sound right to you all?

HERE are my latest TIG results on another post:
https://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.ph...17#post8735317

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by mechanic416

starting and ending amps and upslope and down slope are used in 4T with the trigger only. Never with the pedal turn them off in 2T.

Yes , i found that out early on... post #2855 shows what happens when i started first ever, with the machine set wrong. Thanks.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

My settings for 1/8 steel...

Attachment 1709038








Charl

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

starting and ending amps and upslope and down slope are used in 4T with the trigger only. Never with the pedal turn them off in 2T.

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

Originally Posted by mechanic416

4t is for the trigger not the foot pedal. More post flow 7sec. The brown is contamination form dipping the tungsten, resharpen it. Keep at it. Also in the picture your pulse is turned on not off.

I ran one bead at 1 sec low freq pulse but everything else the pulse is turned off because i was just practicing laying my first beads. Hmmm, now I am second guessing and dont now remember, but if you see that I had the pulse on, then I probably did....what do I know at this point..... I had to sharpen the entire pack of tungsten. The arc wouldn't appear on 4t and the pedal, which explained my bumpy start on this journey yesterday.

With the pulse turned off, do i have to dial in the starting and ending amps or is that only for upslope and down slope? Thanks

Re: AHP Owners/Users Thread. No Trolling unless you have used/own one!

4t is for the trigger not the foot pedal. More post flow 7sec. The brown is contamination form dipping the tungsten, resharpen it. Keep at it. Also in the picture your pulse is turned on not off.