Update to my welder Harbor Freight 170

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I just purchase my 170 work great out box (Nov 2017But I did few improvements to extend life and function of the welding1) Add a stronger relay 2) Add a longer ground wire 10FT3) New ground clamp4) Welding Cart DaveThe last crash of this deleted all photos for Nov 2017

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Last edited by smithdoor; 04-11-2018 at 09:18 PM.HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:Great mods Dave. Appreciate it if you could you give additional info on the relay upgrade (why, parts needed, cost etc.)?Nice welding cart. I just bought the one at HF. Did you make it yourself?Mike
Reply:See Amazon Dayton 5Z538 Relay, SPST-NO-DM, 4 Pins, 120VAC 30 ampThe relay on welder looks like a 10 amp lite duty Yes I made the welding cartThe ground wire I had with ground clamp Dave

Originally Posted by MBG

Great mods Dave. Appreciate it if you could you give additional info on the relay upgrade (why, parts needed, cost etc.)?Nice welding cart. I just bought the one at HF. Did you make it yourself?Mike
Reply:Note the drawing show for 240 volt coil I list a 120VAC that will not work IF you have a 120VAC it can be use by add one side of coil  to the neutral (shown as the red wire)https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-5X851-...+240VAC+30+amp


Originally Posted by smithdoor

See Amazon Dayton 5Z538 Relay, SPST-NO-DM, 4 Pins, 120VAC 30 ampThe relay on welder looks like a 10 amp lite duty Yes I made the welding cartThe ground wire I had with ground clamp Dave
Reply:Here a photo of the relay use on the HF 170By size it looks like a 10 amp Dave

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HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

Here a photo of the relay use on the HF 170By size it looks like a 10 amp Dave
Reply:It how long will last at 30 ampsThat why change to relay to Haevy Duty type it rated 100,000 cycles at 30 amps and 1,000,000 cycleI have a lot China relays that I to replace with good ones made in the USADave

Originally Posted by Iain P

I looked up the relay on the board a couple years ago it is a true 30 amp relay. Incase people are wondering.
Reply:[QUOTE=smithdoor;8610865]It how long will last at 30 ampsThat why change to relay to Haevy Duty type it rated 100,000 cycles at 30 amps and 1,000,000 cycleI have a lot China relays that I to replace with good ones made in the USADave 6th[/QUOTEMine's going on 6 years and 100+ Lbs of wire so I'd say a good long while but there's no guarantee. If I was to replace it I'd go with an inclosed relay to keep grinding dust out of the contacts since my welders seem to suck up a fair amount of dust.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:It is good know the HF170 does lastThe transformer will out last everI look wire size used over sizeDave [QUOTE=Iain P;8610872]

Originally Posted by smithdoor

It how long will last at 30 ampsThat why change to relay to Haevy Duty type it rated 100,000 cycles at 30 amps and 1,000,000 cycleI have a lot China relays that I to replace with good ones made in the USADave 6th[/QUOTEMine's going on 6 years and 100+ Lbs of wire so I'd say a good long while but there's no guarantee. If I was to replace it I'd go with an inclosed relay to keep grinding dust out of the contacts since my welders seem to suck up a fair amount of dust.
Reply:***************Harbor Freight 170 dataSetting: --No Cap --- Open Circuit voltage according to manualMin 1 -----27.43v -----15.2vMin 2 -----32.30v -----16.5vMax 1 -----38.55v -----17.7vMax 2 -----48.80v -----19.2v150 Amp 11%120 Amp 17%110 Amp 20%100 Amp 25%80   Amp 38%70   Amp 50%64   Amp 60% 60Amp 67%50Amp 97%49.   Amp 100%Transform Wire size  of sec .190”HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:Would someone educate me on what the relay is for?  Thanks in advance!
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

***************Harbor Freight 170 dataSetting: --No Cap --- Open Circuit voltage according to manualMin 1 -----27.43v -----15.2vMin 2 -----32.30v -----16.5vMax 1 -----38.55v -----17.7vMax 2 -----48.80v -----19.2v150 Amp 11%120 Amp 17%110 Amp 20%100 Amp 25%80   Amp 38%70   Amp 50%64   Amp 60% 60Amp 67%50Amp 97%49.   Amp 100%Transform Wire size  of sec .190”
Reply:

Originally Posted by Raybonz

Have to say the duty cycle on my elcheapo stick welder is MUCH better!
Reply:there is a thread re this welder with mods at.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...nd-Tests/page5might be useful
Reply:Choke wave with no CapI have included for adding a capacitor reducing and problem with the feed board & feed motor I did add a  capacitor to my weldingDave

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Last edited by smithdoor; 05-13-2018 at 01:44 PM.HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:The capacitor would normally be hooked to the positive and negative of the bridge diode.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bluewelders

The capacitor would normally be hooked to the positive and negative of the bridge diode.
Reply:What's the relay for and which one did you exchange out ?
Reply:Just the relayI included the capacitor just a alternate placementDave

Originally Posted by Bojangles07

What's the relay for and which one did you exchange out ?
Reply:So wat are the %’s withe capacitor mod?
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bojangles07

So wat are the %’s withe capacitor mod?
Reply:How dose one get to these individual amperage with our settings on the MIG170
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bojangles07

How dose one get to these individual amperage with our settings on the MIG170
Reply:Harbor Freight is having a sale on the 170 welder $159.00  










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HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:'Liquidation' - ? Maybe on closeout??I think HF needs an entry level priced welder in their lineup, and the 125AC isn't quite up to serving that role.Or maybe 'Liquidation' is just marketing hype.* Amico MIG-130A Flux, Dual Voltage. Truly portable!* HF MIG-180 with all the mods. Heavy.* Grizzly H8153 Stick/Tig 130/160.* Wards PowrKraft AC-230. Stick & carbon arc.

Originally Posted by California

'Liquidation' - ? Maybe on closeout??I think HF needs an entry level priced welder in their lineup, and the 125AC isn't quite up to serving that role.Or maybe 'Liquidation' is just marketing hype.
Reply:I bought one at that price in February.  I bet they have a lot of 170A welders in inventory, that they are trying to get rid of.

Originally Posted by smithdoor

Harbor Freight is having a sale on the 170 welder $159.00  









Reply:

Originally Posted by DaiIchi

I bought one at that price in February.  I bet they have a lot of 170A welders in inventory, that they are trying to get rid of.
Reply:Can some tell me what settings I would have to be at to be running the amp#'s posted here?
Reply:So what size retictifier?
Reply:

Originally Posted by Bojangles07

So what size retictifier?
Reply:So each amp value stated equals what in wire speed ?
Reply:Here the three methods of installing Capacitors Dave

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HF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:Which method is preferable?* Amico MIG-130A Flux, Dual Voltage. Truly portable!* HF MIG-180 with all the mods. Heavy.* Grizzly H8153 Stick/Tig 130/160.* Wards PowrKraft AC-230. Stick & carbon arc.
Reply:Best should be 2.Method 2- Gives an inductive kick to start the arc and maintain it.Method 1- Gives the equivalent of using car batteries without a choke.Method 3- Gives a semi resonant circuit at certain frequencies
Reply:Method 1 most use this as install the capacitors on the wire feed side Next method is 2 but needs to be install on transformer sideMethod 3 most do use but also works good.The best is to use all 3Dave Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using TapatalkHF 170 welderHF 4x6 band sawSouth Bend 9NMillB&D mag drillVictor torch
Reply:Thanks!* Amico MIG-130A Flux, Dual Voltage. Truly portable!* HF MIG-180 with all the mods. Heavy.* Grizzly H8153 Stick/Tig 130/160.* Wards PowrKraft AC-230. Stick & carbon arc.
Reply:Dave , I just bought a HF 170 gave the other one to my brother . Anyway I just started doing the capacitor mod with switch , but here's a picture of my relay 30amp 240 is this good to go or would you say get the other one that you did , if so can you break it down with some better pics showing which goes where ?. Thanks here's the pic's




Originally Posted by smithdoor

I just purchase my 170 work great out box (Nov 2017But I did few improvements to extend life and function of the welding1) Add a stronger relay 2) Add a longer ground wire 10FT3) New ground clamp4) Welding Cart DaveThe last crash of this deleted all photos for Nov 2017
Reply:For me it is a great welder The 170 weld about same as my Miller welder I had but only on the 170 to max of 100 amps. Do not put a lot capacitors on the welder the wire feed board has a SCR and they need a alternating to work.What happens with to many capacitors is the feed motor will goto max speed.Dave

Originally Posted by poolbizz

Dave , I just bought a HF 170 gave the other one to my brother . Anyway I just started doing the capacitor mod with switch , but here's a picture of my relay 30amp 240 is this good to go or would you say get the other one that you did , if so can you break it down with some better pics showing which goes where ?. Thanks here's the pic's




Reply:I was asking you about the relay . Only one Cap. 100000uf 63v that's all brand new from Mouser 68.00
Reply:I add a relay .The relay on board is at limits . The relay I used is for motor starting and is 40 amp plus it is easy to replace too. The relay on board is still used only to power the new relay. Dave

Originally Posted by poolbizz

I was asking you about the relay . Only one Cap. 100000uf 63v that's all brand new from Mouser 68.00
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

For me it is a great welder The 170 weld about same as my Miller welder I had but only on the 170 to max of 100 amps.