Miller 330A welds in AC horribly!

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So I picked up a 330A for cheap when my Sync180 pcb died.  It welds steel great in DC straight, but it welds aluminum poorly in ACIm assuming its just how these machines are?  It makes a weld, but it penetrates all the way through, has low cleaning action, and the weld is very dull.Just want to confirm Im not doing something wrong before i spend the 850 on a new board for my sync180sd.  I should just get the dynasty I want haha.
Reply:I have the Airco version of that machine and it welds aluminum great  so troubleshooting is in order.First, most important, did you make darn sure the Polarity Lever is in AC (the one with the ball on the handle)?  The range switch looks like it does that job when it's set to the middle range.  Sounds dumb, but I glanced over and forgot to change it once.  It was still over on DC- and you get no cleaning action that way - puddle just falls out.Second, did you switch the Balancing Resistor Switch to Tig?Dave J. Attached ImagesLast edited by MinnesotaDave; 06-07-2013 at 11:07 AM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:First thing is clean and gap your points. Then go buy your Dynasty.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Yep its in Tig and Its in AC!
Reply:Haha!  Ill clean the points and gap them when I get to the shop, see how it does then.
Reply:I forgot to mention, did you check to be sure the inside lever is actually moving and switching you to AC?Contacts could be froze up if it's old and not been used in a long time.Once you get this sorted out I'm sure you'll like it as much as I do Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTIt makes a weld, but it penetrates all the way through, has low cleaning action, and the weld is very dull.
Reply:Yeah go buy the Dynasty then take two months to figure it out.....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Look at Zapster's welds they are all done on a 330ABP.  I have one and it welds great on AC.  So obviously there is an issue with your machine (or the operator).   The is also setting for an unbalanced AC sign wave under the left panel.  So be sure that is set correctly too.  Make sure u r set to continuous for the HF. For Kelvin, yes you do get cleaning action with a conventional sine wave transformerI believe the tIG lever under the lower front panels engages the balance resistors.Last edited by soutthpaw; 06-07-2013 at 01:53 PM.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I have an old idealarc 250 that is just a stick welder an it sure does have cleaning action on AC alumi welding and i have to scratch start that baby lol i posted in this section My first aluminum tig welds or whatever and you can see a really nice outline around the bead and even some decent dime stacks until the plate got to hot and I moved my Hand weird and it messed me up lolMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinI don't think you're going to get any "cleaning action" on a straight sine wave machine without AC balance control, and any aluminum oxide on the surface will tend to rectify your AC arc, so having your alum clean is probably more important than it was with your Sync.
Reply:Usually you get more cleaning with these machines than with newer machines . Its because with newer machines people usually set for more electrode negative (penetration) and that can't be done with the 330. Its always set for 50/50 cleaning/penetration. Check your argon flow. Aluminum doesn't like to much or too little flow.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonFirst thing is clean and gap your points.
Reply:Thank you guys so much. I have several things to check out with this thing tonight.As far as the operator part, I'm a little more than a weekend warrior
Reply:Continuous wasn't being continuous! Thing works great. Pretty impressed this old *** technology works so good. Definitely will do me just fine for awhile!
Reply:Cool - good news Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Glad it was a simple fix. Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTContinuous wasn't being continuous! Thing works great. Pretty impressed this old *** technology works so good. Definitely will do me just fine for awhile!
Reply:Lol! The thing is a beast. Iv been welding for 7 years. Own a shop called The Arc Asylum. www.thearcasylum.comI really appreciate all the responses guys! Definitely gonna start contributing to this site.
Reply:Liked your rear sump modification Best part of using the miller 330 abp is you'll melt your tig torch before you hit the duty cycle Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by papaharley03HF has nothing to do with cleaning action. It just keeps the arc lit. The polarity of the arc current determines cleaning action. It heats up the tungsten while the opposite polarity heats workpiece and not the tungsten, but doesn't provide cleaning action.Papa
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveThis is incorrect.  I use the Airco version of the Miller 330 and when practicing most of the time I don't even clean the aluminum.  Excellent cleaning action.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinI'll be darned. Thanks for the correction. I guess I was thinking of DCEN rather than balanced AC.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDavePic is not a perfect weld, but pretty common for me.
Reply:I'm using a WP-26 flex head or the 17 series depending on amps.The 26 can't keep up though and still gets really hot.  Will be switching to a water cooled 20 this summer. Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.Originally Posted by shovelonNot what I meant Papa. One of the things to check if AC is eratic is high freq. But the cause was found, good for that.Still new or used, clean and gap the points.
Reply:Originally Posted by papaharley03Agreed. But when the OP said 'low cleaning action', I thought you were attributing that directly to HF.He did come back and say the HF wasn't being continuous on AC, don't know if it was a bad switch contact, or the HF points.Hey TinyT, can you tell us what you did to get the HF going continuously?Papa
Reply:Glad you got your machine fixed.BC,is it a money back guarantee if I buy a Dynasty and after 2 months I cannot weld like you,your a hoot dude.
Reply:Put a new switch in it.So ever since I got the machine going Iv noticed that it strikes the arc and contaminates the puddle a bit.  I let it pre flow for a bit and then strike the arc.  On aluminum it lights pretty dirty and then cleans it.  The rest of the bead is clean, but the start is dirty (black deposits).  I cleaned the points well and gapped them.  Anyone have any ideas?
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTPut a new switch in it.So ever since I got the machine going Iv noticed that it strikes the arc and contaminates the puddle a bit.  I let it pre flow for a bit and then strike the arc.  On aluminum it lights pretty dirty and then cleans it.  The rest of the bead is clean, but the start is dirty (black deposits).  I cleaned the points well and gapped them.  Anyone have any ideas?
Reply:Spotless material. Spotless filler. Fresh tungsten. Proper gas flow. I learned long ago to not have a fan in the area.
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTSpotless material. Spotless filler. Fresh tungsten. Proper gas flow. I learned long ago to not have a fan in the area.
Reply:Brand new 6061.  There are no leaks.  15cfh on al.
Reply:Just not post flowing enough. I hadn't used the machine in awhile and went back to it today and realized that.  Seems like it wants much more post flow than other machines iv welded on. Maybe it's in my head. Now that brings up my final issue with the machine. The post flow adjustment box isn't working.  Flows between 5-10 seconds. Seems like it varies, but won't adjust. Anything to try? Place to get a new one?
Reply:Sounds like you need 7A749 to the rescue! Throw up the lights, he's the batman of repairs and parts! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTJust not post flowing enough. I hadn't used the machine in awhile and went back to it today and realized that.  Seems like it wants much more post flow than other machines iv welded on. Maybe it's in my head. Now that brings up my final issue with the machine. The post flow adjustment box isn't working.  Flows between 5-10 seconds. Seems like it varies, but won't adjust. Anything to try? Place to get a new one?
Reply:Originally Posted by TinyTBrand new 6061.
Reply:Haha thanks. It wasn't post flowing enough and if the tungsten wasn't perfectly shiny it would contaminate when I struck an arc. But now It popped a breaker and won't start up. It's popped it a couple times, but this time it won't come back to life. The two fuses on the front are good.
Reply:$20 plus shipping if u want it.   Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2 Attached ImagesTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Paypal address and total?
Reply:Can I send you the money? I'm sick of holding the pedal down for enough post flow haha
Reply:Sorry didn't see this,  send me a pmSent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250