Miller 180 stopped working

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Hey guys, I've been lurking here for some time but today, my brand new miller just stopped working. I was working on a friends truck closing a hole in his exhaust, everything was going fine with frequent stops.Then in a middle of a weld, I heard a loud pop, like a fuse blowing out and my miller just died. I hit the reset button but still no go. I don't think I hit its limit as I had it on a low setting and was stopping frequently.How would I check if anything is burnt?
Reply:Did you open it up and look? Find the pieces of what blew in the bottom of the cabinet..(Others would be available to help, but they're all piling on an import unit that failed, at the moment..)Welcome to the forum.ps, if you don't know about not touching things that can zap you, maybe call a pro..Last edited by Jake98; 01-12-2012 at 08:18 PM.LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by Jake98(Others would be available to help, but they're all piling on an import unit that failed, at the moment..)
Reply:If its brand new call miller after all they have a three year warranty.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:what, a new precious miller died, wtf.. hope you miller diehards didnt get your feelings hurt, lolLast edited by brucer; 01-13-2012 at 12:02 AM.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Don't know if I'll ever recover.  Have to go into counseling, hire a therapist and everything.  Probably sell all my Millers as a result. I'm surprised Alex or Simon haven't jumped in and offered to replace it with one of their fine machines.  That way we could have another perpetual thread about several DOA replacement units, guns that don't fit, offers of free consumables, . . .loST ghoST - If you manage to make it back to yor thread, take it to the dealer you bought it from if you haven't already or call Miller Customer Service for instruction on what to do to get it resolved under warranty.Last edited by duaneb55; 01-13-2012 at 08:42 AM.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:New machine under warranty take it to where you bought it, let us know how long it takes to repair it.
Reply:You can call Miller direct at: 920-734-9821 if you want to get the ball rolling right away.  Have the serial number ready.They will either troubleshoot it or send you out a brand new machine.  You will likely have to contact the distributor you bought it from if they are going to send you a new machine.We have only had one of the Millermatics we sold fail in the first week.  Miller sent out a new one that day and a return label for the machine that failed so they could study the reason [email protected]
Reply:Over the years I have had plenty of millers.  No more millers for me.  The last one i had was the older mdl to these new 180's.  It was a 175.  Didn't use it much but i had it for a good 6 years till recently.  Over a 2 year period i changed the wire speed switch.  Then the machine gave me problems with something else and i brought it in for service.  3 months later i get it back and still had problems.  The bone head could never fix the problem.  lost 300 + buck and brought it to another place.  This guy finally found the problem in the circut board and 400 or so dollars later i was up and running.  Got to use it on 3 or 4 project over the next year and just about a month ago it did the same thing to me as you discribed here.  Heard a noise and it stopped working, but i also had some smoke.  Opened it up and the circut board was toast, dont know why it worked great for 2 weeks prior to that.  I didn't do anything different it just happened.  Knowing what the circut board cost i took the gun and ground off and tossed it in the jobsite dumpster.  BTW all and i mean all the millers i have ever owned have given me problems with wire speed switches.  Dont know why I seem to have problems with millers but i do.  I like the way they look, pretty blue but not for me i guess.Never again.  I will stick to my lincolns and clarkes.Anyway hope you get your problem resolved quickly.  If i had to guess I would say your problem is in the board.  Good thing its new and you have warranty.Last edited by cyclone; 01-14-2012 at 09:37 PM.
Reply:This whole thread sounds fishy. The OP posted this on the 12th and hasn't been back to check?? Maybe the mods should check their ip address to see if they are really new posters or shills by a certain company???
Reply:Speaking of fishy, let me see if I've got this right. Originally Posted by cycloneOver the years I have had plenty of millers.
Reply:I'd bet a steak dinner that this guy (Cyclone) is a "paid plant" from one of the importers.One thing's for sure.  Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Funney miller put in a new board in my 175 under warranty even though I was second owner. Boards are common in those. Millers customer. Service brought me back for more.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopIf its brand new call miller after all they have a three year warranty.
Reply:Well I am not trying to be anything.  I am truly a fencing contractor in Louisisan.  Prior to my business i started in 2004 I had a business with 2 other fellows.  We had a 3 way partnership and when I first started some 20 years ago I did not know how to weld and one of the other guys purchased some of our machines.  He purchased millers.  I also purchased millers because it is what i knew.  We had 4 machines that were 130's or at later times were 135's.  It was easy to put these machines on the trucks becasue they were small and most of what we welded was pipe up to 2" sch 40 and these machines would do it.  I make the statments I do today from years of looking back at the machines we have had in service.  We also had a 210 in the shop and my personal 175.  I am not kidding when i say all these machines needed some type of wire speed service, some were switches and some were boards that needed replacing.  I also have a lincoln 130 that i believe is 12 years old.  I have a clarke that is 4 years old but has been put through abuse.  The lincoln and clarke have had no service done to them.  all original parts and still working.  Yes I was taken with my 175 miller by a tech who did not fix the machine correctly and could never fix it.  I only say what i do by the observation i have made over the years, thats all.  I am sure that many millers have worked great for a good number of people.  I also NOW get into my machines.  Why? Simple so I can know what is going on.   10 years ago i would have never opened up a machine, not anymore.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIII'd bet a steak dinner that this guy (Cyclone) is a "paid plant" from one of the importers.One thing's for sure.  Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Reply:Miller will warranty it. You can even take it to you local dealer.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:"Really do you think that someone importing millions of dollars of equip cares what is said on this forum"?You dang right I do.  Why else would they have spent so much effort trying to "control" the comments.  We've all seen the deleted posts, the paid plants (free consumables), the phony positive comments, etc, etc.I stand by my previous "knife" comments.It would seem to me that if your business was serious about "field welding" you would have selected a machine (such as the Passport Plus) better suited to the rigors of the field, rather than an entry level machine designed for low duty cycle shop use.As far as the tech who worked on your machine, I offer this comment:The definition of stupid is doing the same exact thing over and over and expecting different results.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:[QUOTE=SundownIII;692121You dang right I do.  Why else would they have spent so much effort trying to "control" the comments.  We've all seen the deleted posts, the paid plants (free consumables), the phony positive comments, etc, etc.[/QUOTE]"They" whos they?  By what your saying it is implying that foreign companies have control over this forum.  How is that?  I have never seen a forum controled by anyone other than the mods of said forum.  Deleted post?  All mods on all forums delete post if they fell like for what ever reason they may have.  The forum belongs to them.  They dont need to give you a reason.   Paid Plants?  So let me get this straight, companies pay individuals to join forums to rattle cages of forum members?  What is the going rate for such a job?  And where do you sign up?  Free consumables???? Tell me where I want my share.   Sorry to have rattled your cage, done with you and this thread.
Reply:"they" are longevity, and everlast. they have paid for sections in this forum that they get to moderate, edit, and delete posts from as they see fit. over the last several years they (see above for definition) have paid hobby welders to rave about their "great" toys from said companies by giving the posters "X" amount of free consumables per "Y" amount of positive posts about their products.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Chalk up another one.Everlast never offered me anything free. They do put starter consumables in their kits tho, so that you can verify that the machines work.Last edited by Jake98; 01-17-2012 at 07:33 PM.LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by turk"they" are longevity, and everlast. they have paid for sections in this forum that they get to moderate, edit, and delete posts from as they see fit. over the last several years they (see above for definition) have paid hobby welders to rave about their "great" toys from said companies by giving the posters "X" amount of free consumables per "Y" amount of positive posts about their products.
Reply:cyclone,You're just a new guy who got caught up in an ongoing dogfight.There are several "oldtimers" here that had to live thru the BS that almost tore this board apart at the seams.What you see now is NOTHING compared to the BS that went on when the importers first showed up here.  Deleted negative posts were the order of the day.  We've been there and done that, and sure as he11 don't want to go back.I agree with you, if I had my way, I'd sure contribute to the site to get rid of the importers (and many of the know nothing newbies who follow them and sing their praises).Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIThere are several "oldtimers" here that had to live thru the BS that almost tore this board apart at the seams.What you see now is NOTHING compared to the BS that went on when the importers first showed up here.   I'd sure contribute to the site to get rid of the importers (and many of the know nothing newbies who follow them and sing their praises).
Reply:Need to go back a little farther than September of 2011 Jake.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!Jake,You'rfe precisely the dumb azz newbie that doesn't know jack sh1t about welding or welding machines, but are singing the praises of something you don't even know how to use.All one has to do is go back and read your posts to confirm my observations.  You post a lot of "cute" BS and ask a bunch of basic questions but have no base of knowledge.  You're precisely the "target audience" for the importers.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Need to go back a little farther than September of 2011 Jake.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIAll one has to do is go back and read your posts to confirm my observations.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIII'd bet a steak dinner that this guy (Cyclone) is a "paid plant" from one of the importers.
Reply:Dude's on his second post..Welcome to the forum Lost Ghost !LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX
Reply:To the OP,All machines can fail.  Some brands have better durability than others.  Call Miller and see what happens.   I own a MM and did own a Synchro.  Both machines over 20 yrs old.  The techs at Miller practically bent over backwards to help me.  Whoever is in charge there is one smart fella to keep the customer service like that.  It creates an intense loyalty.  Also, Duanne is the resident MM expert here.  He's helped me plenty as well as countless others.  Knows his stuff.  BTW, learning to ignore Sunny is more difficult than Fixing your machine.   It takes years of practice.Last edited by Drf255; 01-18-2012 at 06:42 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Thanks for the welcoming guys lolAlready took the machine to a distributor who will honor the warranty.
Reply:Once people weld longer maybe they will get some thicker skin. Nothing sundown has said would bother me. But I. Also realize when I buy a cheaper tool that is what you have. And I do have some cheap stuff. But when it breaks you throwit away and get a new one not go online and bitch about it.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopOnce people weld longer maybe they will get some thicker skin. Nothing sundown has said would bother me. But I. Also realize when I buy a cheaper tool that is what you have. And I do have some cheap stuff. But when it breaks you throwit away and get a new one not go online and bitch about it.
Reply:Originally Posted by LoSt GhoStThanks for the welcoming guys lolAlready took the machine to a distributor who will honor the warranty.
Reply:I think what is being said here is you cant compare the cheep imports with professional quality machines with  the cheep imports which are not made to last if they work correctly at all. You get what you pay for and may end up paying more for the cheep units when they prematurely fail and need replacement when no parts are available. Professionals do not use cheep  machines in critical areas of operation as one poorly timed fail-yer can cost more than the value of a quality welder.  If you want to understand what you most likely will have to deal with with the non-professional machines "cheep imports" go look up user junkweld on the hobart forums he had been re-engineering a tig unit "For Fun" or two that he owns as he found its weak links as its parts failed in use.I am new to welding and the equipment and I am great-full! to have been guided into quality equipment as the last thing I need is crap equipment making my welds worse than they already are. Now had I not researched for a long time before  my purchase I may have been sucked into the void of cheep units and suffered the consequences of that poor uneducated decision. What I am trying to say is Thanks! to the people on this and other forums for helping me make  reasonable choices on my machine purchases. The old I bought this cheep unit and it failed and so did the replacements threads also helped. LoSt GhoSt: Good to hear you got it to a repair rep. welcome to the forum.  From what I have seen Miller is quick to fix any issues that pop up.
Reply:Originally Posted by LoSt GhoStThanks for the welcoming guys lolAlready took the machine to a distributor who will honor the warranty.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopOnce people weld longer maybe they will get some thicker skin. Nothing sundown has said would bother me.
Reply:I welded on one of the a couple of days ago, and wasn't much for heavy stock and deep penetration, but boy I liked the smaller nozzel on the torch makes my other torches feel like a club. Could really get to like that for certain applications.
Reply:Must be thick enough cause piddly crap doesn't bother me. I don't know sundown from Adam but it seems he could say good morning and piss someone off. My thick skin comment doesn't just apply to him it seems anytime someone has something negative to say someones feelings get hurt.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopAnd I do have some cheap stuff. But when it breaks you throw it away and get a new one not go online and bitch about it.
Reply:Back in action. YEA BUUUUDY!!!!
Reply:Three weeks, not too bad.LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX