EM 215ic sMIG failure - cold weather related?

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I've had my EM 215ic for a few months now, and all summer and fall sMIG has worked fine. The last week or so I've been doing some body work on 22GA sheet metal, using .023 wire, in my unheated garage. A couple days ago, sMIG was working just fine. Today, it's 25 degrees out, by far the coldest I've tried to use it in. It blew through the sheet metal, dropped a bunch of slag, and then threw error 3 when the slag shorted from the wire to the gas shield. I switched over to manual settings and it's working just fine. Has anyone else had issues with sMIG failing when the unit is cold?
Reply:Have you tried powering off and back on?  What about Resetting the machine?  I have issues with my EMP 215ic when I power my machine on and don't change the settings from the last time I used it.  To get around this I have to change the settings down or up then back to where I want or need them and that fixes the issue.  I have not reset the machine yet but I am coming up on 2.5 years owning it now so I better get on it and see if that fixes the issue before the warranty is up.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:I did try turning it off and back on. Not sure what you mean by resetting, but I assume that sets sMIG back to all the defaults - I haven't done that. I did change the settings, both when I first started using it (was doing something different last time I used it) and a couple times while trying to get it to work.
Reply:There is a way to reset it from the main settings.  Are you running in basic or enhanced feature mode?Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:I am assuming you are using the correct tip on the gun and drive roller for the .023 wire but it never hurts to ask and make sure.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:Another thing just to be safe I always unplug my machine when not in use.  I don't want any power spikes or surges when a drunker hits a power pole causing a sudden power surge down the line to my welder.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:My machine is the "EM", so no fancy touchscreen, just the basic knobs and LCD display. I am using the correct roller and tips for .023 (actually Lincoln .025, but same diff). It has been unplugged when not in use, at least between when it was working fine and today.
Reply:I don't know about that particular machine, but sometimes fans will not run properly when too cold.
Reply:The fan is running, I can hear it. Also, this isn't after welding for a while, this was from the first arc today.I checked the owner's manual for the EM 215ic, but there's no mention of a reset procedure for this model. I also checked the welder and couldn't find a "reset" button except the circuit breaker, which was not tripped.I also should mention I'm running on 110V, no 220 in the garage yet - dual voltage was one of the big selling points of the welder for me.
Reply:I don't think you need the EMP to do the reset and I don't have a fancy touch screen either LOL...  Let me go play in the garage for a minute and see if I can't come back with a video to help you out.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:Ok bare with me here I was using my cell phone to record the video and I'm not a youtube video expert but I think you can get the gist of what I am relaying in this video.Hopefully you have the same Reset and advanced features in your EM as I do my EMP and find this video helpful. Last edited by N2 Welding; 11-16-2018 at 10:18 PM.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:All right...I'll bite.You don't mention calling ESAB's technical folks.  What did they say?  And if you didn't call them, why not?LanceMultimatic 255 w/MDX-250 EZ-Select gunHypertherm Powermax45 XPHeck Bevel Mill 4000Miller/Smith heavy duty torch set9" Evolution circular saw
Reply:I'm going to remove that video as it is no help to you.  I looked at the EM model and realize it is no help to you.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:

Originally Posted by LanceR

All right...I'll bite.You don't mention calling ESAB's technical folks.  What did they say?  And if you didn't call them, why not?
Reply:

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

I'm going to remove that video as it is no help to you.  I looked at the EM model and realize it is no help to you.
Reply:Ahh.  I misread you original post and had though the issue was over the last week.  I'm seriously considering buying an EMP 285IC so I've been keeping an eye out on Rebel related threads.LanceMultimatic 255 w/MDX-250 EZ-Select gunHypertherm Powermax45 XPHeck Bevel Mill 4000Miller/Smith heavy duty torch set9" Evolution circular saw
Reply:The rebel is a software controlled welder. ESAB has made many improvements since they first came out. Loading new software takes about 1/2 hour in the EMP units. (The user manual files.)Except for EMP units that the display freezes on. ESAB wants us to load new software first and see if that fixes it. Before we can replace anything. Especially intermittent error codes.This does fix a lot of them. Might be a good idea to have the 2.5 yer machines software updated.If you are in central and northern California send me a PM.