Considering Ramsond Super 200P TIG/Plasma Inverter

[marcgvky]

This is also posted over at Welderzone, which I believe is the preferred venue for these questions, but since there is activity here, I thought I would give it a try.

Have have several questions:

1) Has anyone had any experience with Ramsond inverters?
1a) If you have, did you have overheating problems with the 200P?

2) I am a relatively inexperienced TIG welder (took the Lincoln Class) and have only used machines with HF start. The Ramsond is a scratch start machine. Any downside to scratch-start technique? Is it difficult to master?

Please throw out any other considerations that you feel relevant regarding the purchase of a foreign-made inverter type welder.

Much appreciated,

Marc

[integerspin]

Take a look at pirate4x4, I think there is someone on there that supplies chinky plasmas, with a guarantee and also uprated versions of them. I am not sure if he does welders but it would be likely.

[marcgvky]

Ramsond has a batch of re-engineered units coming online in the next few days. I will post the specifics of the unit which I am interested in.... once they post their new product spec's and links on the website.

Another user asked me which machine I was interested in, generally I am interested in the Pulsed-TIG/Plasma/Arc machines.

More next week. Thanks for everyone's advice.

[marcgvky]

I decided to go ahead and purchase one of their upgrade Super 250PY devices. They have problems if you plow through Aluminum all day long at max amp's.... but I won't be that person.



http://www.ramsond.com/proddetail.php?prod=SUPER250PY&cat=9

That's the link to the product.

So, I will post my experience, as soon as I fire it up. Will start taking pictures when it arrives.

Wish me luck!

-Marc

[marcgvky]

Well, the initial impression is that the packing was sufficient. The unit was double-packed; with one box contained in another box and surrounded by 1" of solid foam.

The only down side to the packing: the bottom of the outer box wash not sufficiently taped. There was no intrusion into the inner box, so I signed for it.

You can see what shipped, I took some photo's.

Just pulled a 30-amp circuit off of my sub-panel and will fire it up tomorrow. Will blast through some steel and pulse-TIG some aluminum and post the results.

One thing that I am disappointed about, they did not include collet's for anything larger than 1/16" tungstens (and the machine is 200amp). Not a big deal, but you think they would just throw it all in for convenience.

[marcgvky]

Well, guys. I am a little disappointed. A couple of problems with the unit, one major one minor.

Major issue: The HF start is not functioning, so, no arc start on plasma torch :-(

Major issue: The adjustment for gas pre-flow and gas post-flow on the don't seem to have any impact on the actual length of time for the pre- and -post flow.

Minor issue: The "moisture drain cock" on the air flow regulator pops open and stays open each time the gas flow solenoid closes.... annoying and a waste of argon, to be sure.

I have an email into the tech service people. Updates to follow.

[integerspin]

Thats the sort of story that put me off buying a cheap inverter..

[marcgvky]

The out-of-the-box quality has been absolutely terrible:

1) The TIG torch would attach. But, I couldn't get the MMA nor the ground clamp to twist into the connectors on the front of the machine. After comparing the dimensions of the TIG connector to the MMA and ground connectors, I found that the MMA and ground where larger than the TIG. I called tech support and explained that they were obviously machined/dimensioned incorrectly. I shaved 0.015" off of the bronze indexing tabs of the MMA and ground clamp male fittings (so they were the same dimensions as the TIG torch). They still wouldn't fit! Their tech support recommended that I shave 1/16" off the rubber off of the handles. I literally had to grind rubber off of the back of the connectors before they would seat and twist!

2) Called tech support today to discuss the lack of high-frequency (in any mode) and the lack of plasma stream from the plasma function. They recommended I open the machine and adjust the spark-gap on the HF board. Thank goodness I have a background in electronics (because if I hadn't, he would have been speaking greek). Truthfully, I wasn't so comfortable reaching into the machine (energized or not), but I got brave and adjusted the spark-gap on the HF until they were "close enough" to create a spark in the gap. STILL NO HF or plasma stream at the "working end"!!

3) They ship the unit with a gas pressure regulator which mounts on the rear. When the gas solenoid closes (to stop the flow of air/argon to the torch), the purge valve on the bottom of the regulator pops open and free-flows argon/compressed air (that's just plain stupid). The only way for me to stop this from happening was to weight-down the purge valve with a pair of vice-grips. Seriously!

4) The cleaning action in AC Tig mode appears to suck. I am a novice, but the surface of the weld ends up dull. Pretty sure that ain't quite right.

Oh well, I am going to try to get an RMA and a refund. Lesson learned.

-Marc

[marcgvky]

Now get this, the machine will not shut down. It remains running, even when the power switch is placed in the "off" position.

It's not a "cooling off cycle", because I still activate the torch and the gas solenoid opens, while the switch is "off".

I think I want to go throw up now.

[marcgvky]

Well guys, I sent them this, on Monday:

Chris:

I pulled the cover off and you were correct. The spark gap was not set properly. After bringing them closer together, there is now a spark between the two points of the spark gap. However, no HF for any of the processes and no plasma stream.

Also, the machine will not shut down. It remains running, even when the power switch is placed in the "off" position. I can even activate the torch, while the switch is "off".

It looks like we have a very bad machine. I have to say that I have been very disappointed in the "out of the box" quality, at this point. I have had to modify components (e.g. shaving the rubber handles on the MMA and ground clamp connections), the plasma cutting function has never worked, there is no HF for AC tig or the Plasma functions, and the purge valve on the bottom of the regulator pops off every time the gas solenoid closes!

At this point, I would like to return the device for a full refund. Can you send me an RMA number, please?

Thanks,

Marc

No answer from them, either via email or phone..... very disappointing. Sent another email to their Sales Department, today. Hope they respond.

[marcgvky]

After about a week of silence, they emailed me a RMA/return label. Thank goodness.

This may be a unique experience among hundreds of satisfied customers, but I haven't seen anyone in any forum saying good things about Chinese-made inverters (with the one exception of someone saying they liked their Longevity unit). So, take it with a grain of salt and draw your own conclusions.

As for me: Where did I put that number for Lincoln Electric or Miller???

[MSM69Z28]

i tried to send you a PM, but it doesnt show in my sent box so I am assuming it is not working correctly for me.

anyway, i also bought a ramsond welder, and would like to discuss my experience with you, but i'd rather not drag em through the mud on this forum.

email me at msminor@boostedhorsepower.com

thanks,

michael