How TIG Torch is energized

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I was trying to setup a watercooler on my little mini tig welder and I had some questions.  Things are different between the setup I had on my watercooled tig torch and my little air cooled tig torch.Basically I was wondering how an air cooled TIG torch is energized.  Like what goes on side the gas line that comes from the welder.  And how is a Water cooled tig torch energized?  It seems like the water cooled torch sends electricity through the water, but I am not sure.  I am sort of confused on how to switch everything over.
Reply:nope, the water cooled torch has a seperate gas line.  Water runs through the cable part to keep it cool.  You need an adaptor of some type if your gas went through the din connector on the air cooled torch.  Its setup opposite of what I would think would be normal.  The return line to water cooler connects to the red or power lead, the blue is water or supply, and it circulates through the head before returning.  If your unsure, just blow through the fittings and see what happens (on the torch).  That way you have some idea how to connect it up properly.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Originally Posted by Doolittlenope, the water cooled torch has a seperate gas line.  Water runs through the cable part to keep it cool.  You need an adaptor of some type if your gas went through the din connector on the air cooled torch.  Its setup opposite of what I would think would be normal.  The return line to water cooler connects to the red or power lead, the blue is water or supply, and it circulates through the head before returning.  If your unsure, just blow through the fittings and see what happens (on the torch).  That way you have some idea how to connect it up properly.
Reply:Water cooled tig torches...The power comes from the water exhaust tube..There is a cable in the tube...The water in side is just that..water in.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterWater cooled tig torches...The power comes from the water exhaust tube..There is a cable in the tube...The water in side is just that..water in.....zap!
Reply:Well, if water wasnt spraying out of the nozzle, youve probably got it hooked up right.  The wire for the electrode is sheathed around the water tube, so no the water is not in direct contact with the wire.  Is that what you are wondering?Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Originally Posted by DoolittleWell, if water wasnt spraying out of the nozzle, youve probably got it hooked up right.  The wire for the electrode is sheathed around the water tube, so no the water is not in direct contact with the wire.  Is that what you are wondering?
Reply:?  Never would have thunk that..  Please disregard previous post.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Sure is..The water comes into the torch thru an empty tube...The water goes thru the torch head and then goes out the exhaust tube..The exhaust tube has the power cable in it..The water can get that hot at times that if it came in thru the power side?The "exhaust" tube would melt...There is a reason why the water flows OUT the power IN side.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Do all those water hoses come with power lines in them?  Whether they are red or blue?  Because I want to set it up the way zapster said it is supposed to be because if the reason he listed, but I don't want to just switch the colors because I like it being organized and color coded.Or can you take the power out of the water line and put it in another water line?
Reply:freaks me out, seems like the water would corode the wire.  Ive never torn mine down (threw out the one I burned up).  I allways assumed (here I go again) that the actual wire was sheathed around the return tube, thus keeping the water from directly contacting the copper.  dunno... seems wierd to me.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:If you look really closely to this "blown up" pic..You can see the power cable here and there..That is located in the water out side..Thats why it got so hot so fast..   http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...light=meltdown...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by Doolittlefreaks me out, seems like the water would corode the wire.  Ive never torn mine down (threw out the one I burned up).  I allways assumed (here I go again) that the actual wire was sheathed around the return tube, thus keeping the water from directly contacting the copper.  dunno... seems wierd to me.
Reply:F.Y.I.The power cable that is inside the tube is braded stainless.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterIf you look really closely to this "blown up" pic..You can see the power cable here and there..
Reply:So I think I am hearing two things.  Should the cold or hot be energized?  It seems like the cold would be more logical so the fresh cold water keeps cooling the internal wire.  But also the water may get warmed up too much by the wire and cause the torch to get heated, so I am confused what is the best way.
Reply:the power line should be used for water return.the torch head requires more cooling than the power line so it gets the fresh coolant.think of it this way- the head of your air cooled torch got far hotter than the power cable. thats the primary reason for water cooling- the torch can be much smaller and will still run cooler. returning the water via the power cable keeps its temperature constant, allowing a lighter gauge (read thinner, more flexible) power cablethe water jackets in the torch are tiny so using de-ionised water would be a good idea- not so much for corrosion but to prevent a build up of mineral deposits in the water jackets
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterF.Y.I.The power cable that is inside the tube is braded stainless.....zap!
Reply:Getting to the bottom of this.. My welding supply house tells me that some are indeed copper..And some are copper with a stainless outer braid..Take your pick.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I'll pick the stainless outer braid, thank you.  Always learning something new.
Reply:Is there another way of hooking up a watercooled torch to a welder with a DSIN connector that only supports air cooled?  I want to do it without buying a watercooled DSIN connection.  It's the small plug on the thermalarcs.
Reply:Just goes to show, the learning never ends.  Thanks fellas.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoyIs there another way of hooking up a watercooled torch to a welder with a DSIN connector that only supports air cooled?  I want to do it without buying a watercooled DSIN connection.  It's the small plug on the thermalarcs.
Reply:Well not sure exactly if your plan makes sense.  Here is what I have to work with.  The picture of the setup on the blue machine is my watercooled torch hooked up to my HF-251D-1 high freq box.  I want to take the torch and watercooler and connect it to my ThermalArc.
Reply:Hmm, that TA connector looks kind of odd.  Is your amptrol on the torch?Anyway, yeah I think it would work but looking at that it might be easier to do from the torch end.  Your existing torch has a gas hose, a wire and, apparently a finger amptrol?  Cut the gas hose off the existing torch and hose barb that to the gas in on the water cooled torch (cut the gas fitting off the end of the water cooled torch hose if that's what it takes to hose barb the two together).Cut the wire off the existing torch and connect it to the "electrode in" on your water cooler (or wherever the power source is supposed to connect to on your water cooler).  Take the amptrol off your existing torch and mount it on your water cooled torch.Throw the existing torch in your scrap bucket.  Clean up all the lines to the water cooled torch in a cover sheath.  You are done.Would that work?Last edited by phila.renewal; 05-24-2007 at 12:10 AM.Hmm, I think I sort of understand, I can work with what you are giving me.btw, no finger control on the air cooled torch.  I have a foot petal.  It plugs into the front of that little TIG welder.  Can't you see right there towards the top right of the little red welder?But I do have a finger control on the water cooled torch.  It's hooked up to the Miller High Freq box.  A custom assembled plug.  Just an off/off switch.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoyIs there another way of hooking up a watercooled torch to a welder with a DSIN connector that only supports air cooled?  I want to do it without buying a watercooled DSIN connection.  It's the small plug on the thermalarcs.
Reply:Well it was much easier than I thought.  I just had to buy some cheap little pieces at the welding store today.I bought a universal connector for my Thermalarc welder.  I put 1' of lead on it, connected it to a crimp-on copper connector.  Then got a bolt/nut/washer combo and used that to connect it to my water energizing block.Now all I need to do is switch the red and blue water lines and I am good to go!This is how it turned out: