Operation

b-9	OPERATION	b-9

ARC STRIKING WITH IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD AND THE NA-3 START bOARD

When electrical strikeouts exceed 1 3/4” (44.4mm) an NA-3 Start Board may be required to improve arc strik- ing.

When the NA-3 Start Board is used to improve arc strik- ing, use the following procedures:

1.Set start time at 0.

2.Set NA-3 start current and start voltage at mid- range.

3.Set the NA-3 output current and voltage to the prop- er settings for the welding procedure to be used.

4.Turn the Start Board Timer to maximum.

5.Set Start Board current and voltage control.

•Set the Start Board current control to 1 1/2 dial num- bers below that set on the NA-3 current control.

•Set the Start Board voltage control equal with the NA-3 voltage control setting.

NOTE: These Start Board current and voltage set- tings result in a start up current that is lower than the NA-3 current setting and approximately equal with the NA-3 voltage setting for the desired weld- ing procedure.

6.Establish the correct arc striking procedure with the NA-3 Start Board timer set at maximum.

•For the best starting performance, the NA-3 Open Circuit Voltage Control and Voltage Control set- ting should be the same. Set the Inch Speed Control for the slowest inch speed possible.

•To adjust the Open Circuit Voltage Control to get the best starting performance, make repeated starts observing the NA-3 voltmeter.

When the voltmeter pointer swings smoothly up to the desired arc voltage, without undershooting or overshooting the desired arc voltage, the Open Circuit Voltage Control is set properly.

If the voltmeter pointer overshoots the desired voltage and then returns back to the desired volt- age, the Open Circuit Voltage Control is set too high. This can result in a bad start where the wire tends to "Blast off."

If the voltmeter pointer hesitates before coming up to the desired voltage, the Open Circuit Voltage Control is set too low. This can cause the electrode to stub.

•Set NA-3 Start Board current and voltage as close to the welding procedure current and volt- age as possible.

NOTE: The Start Board current and voltage should be as close as possible to the welding pro- cedure current and voltage, while still getting sat- isfactory starts.

•Set the start time to as low a time as possible while still getting satisfactory starts.

7.Start and make the weld.

IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD POWER SOURCE SETTING WHEN CONNECTED TO NA-5 WIRE FEEDER

When using the IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD with the NA-5 wire feeder, set the controls on the IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD as follows for the best performance:

1.Turn OFF main AC input power supply to the IDE- ALARC® DC-600 VRD.

2.Connect the electrode cables to terminal polarity to be used.

3.Connect the #21 work lead (on T.S.2) to the same polarity as the work cable connection.

4.Set the IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD LOCAL/REMOTE Switch to REMOTE.

5.Set the IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD OUTPUT TERMINALS switch to REMOTE.

6.Set the IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD WELDING MODE SWITCH to the position that matches the welding process being used.

•For submerged arc welding, set WELDING MODE SWITCH to CV SUBMERGED ARC posi- tion.

•For all open arc welding processes set WELDING MODE SWITCH to CV INNERSHIELD position.

IDEALARC® DC-600 VRD