Printable View
Is there a way to change the fan in a Dialarc HF to only run when the machine needs cooling so I don't have to listen to the fan all the time? Most of my stick welding is with 1/8" or 3/32" electrodes and I rarely do a lot of sustained welding so I suspect that the fan would only need to be running a very small portion of the time.
I only recently got this particular machine and don't have a TIG setup for it so it is only being used for stick welding at this time.
The fan in my old buzz box quit working. Since then I have only used it for small welds in cool temps. If its a hot day and I am doing more than tacking I will put a household fan up to the vents to move air across the transformer.
That said, the powered up welder with no fan still makes a fair amount of noise. It would be better to prepare/organize your welding tasks and shorten the amount of time you need the welder powered up.
I had an old Forney AC 225 amp welder that didn't come with a fan, just used natural air movement as it heated up.
That said, I sometimes would like to turn off the fan on my Syncrowave 350. It's pretty obnoxious.
I've welded with a Syncrowave 250 that had fan-on-demand. It was pretty nice :)
Yeah, its possible, but not sure how advisable. https://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.ph...emand-retrofit
Thanks to all. Unless I can be sure that everything that really needs cooled will be cooled I won't make any changes as the welder isn't on for very long most of the time.
I really don't understand all the complaints about the fan noise.
The fan on my Lincoln 225 runs all the time and it doesn't bother me at all.
In fact when I can't strike an arc the fan noise tells me the problem is the work clamp without even lifting my hood! :)
Next thing we will be hearing complaints about the noise that a grinder makes! :laugh:
Well the fan on a big miller unit is huge, especially in comparison to the fan on a Lincoln 225. If memory serves me correctly the Lincoln 225 has a plastic fan that is approximately 4-6 inches in diameter. The big Miller boxes like the dialarc or my syncrowave, the fan is metal and like 14 inches in diameter. It really makes a LOT of noise, but I just live it personally.
The fan on my Syncrowave sounds like a jet taking off.
I have looked at the field kit to make it fan on demand but never bothered to round up the parts.
I don't remember if it was Everlast or AHP, but either way, I was strongly advised against trying to do fan-on-demand on an inverter machine. At that point, I also quit trying to convert my Lincoln. Yeah, the noise can be annoying, but you get used to it, after awhile, you don't realize it's on. Kinda like when kids or wife are yakking away, you kinda tune it out, LOL. Just kidding, Honey! Seriously!
As Louie posted FOD is the slick way to do it.Quote:
Originally Posted by LanceR
i have the same wind/ noise problem with my Tig 300 300 Idealarc
as a test 1 day ran 4 5/32 7018 sticks in a row with the fan off
The stack of transformers /reactor core/main output windings/inducter barely produced any measurable heat with a temp gun and i couldn't tell any difference by putting my hand on the stack after unplugging the welder.
so i just exchanged the 2 receptacle outlet with a single receptacle and light switch on the front of the welder.
if running multiple sticks or Tigging at high amps on thick aluminum i just turn on the switch.
iirc the fan is about 275 watts and about 14" diameter.
It is nice to be able to turn it off. The old industrial machines have Loud fans...
Before we sold our farm and downsized into semi-retirement my shop building was a 5800 square feet Morton steel building and 100 yards from the house. It didn't much matter how loud things were. Now, the fan issue with the Dialarc is not just an issue in the attached two car garage where it is but despite two layers of 5/8" drywall and another wall on the other side of the basement stairs that parallels the garage wall you can still hear the fan in the family room right through the steel fire door. It's not real loud but it is noticeable.
As the majority of my welding to date has been 1/8" or less and I rarely run more than 5-6 sticks at a time I'd like to quiet the welder down. I do want to step up to some bigger rods soon and maybe some TIG if I can scrounge the accessories at a reasonable price but still won't be welding as if I were in a production shop.
I've had a few Dialarc 250s and a Dialarc 250P and they are pretty simple inside. This Dialarc HF has a lot more components inside and I'm not really sure what are the ones most important to keep cool. If I knew what parts were the most likely to overheat I'd be a lot more confident in making it fan on demand.
Sometimes being hard of hearing has a benefit.:laugh: I know I wished for that condition when I was married.Quote:
Originally Posted by rexcormack
My fan in the 330 makes the fan in the Syncrowave 250 sound like a whisper.Quote:
Originally Posted by vwguy3
Sound intensity is inversely squared to the distance... simply weld further from the machine:waving: I'm here to help... if you find your beer getting warm too quickly, it helps to drink it faster.:waving::waving: