ESAB Caddy TA34 AC/DC User manual

Caddy®
Instruction manual
0460 227 174 GB 20131022 Valid from program version 1.20
TA34 AC/DC

TABLE OF CONTENTS
0460 227 174 © ESAB AB 2013
1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Useful information about the welding product .................................................3
1.2 Control panel ........................................................................................................ 3
2 TIG WELDING....................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Settings ................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Symbol and Function explanations....................................................................6
2.3 Hidden TIG functions......................................................................................... 12
3 MMA WELDING.................................................................................................. 14
3.1 Settings ............................................................................................................... 14
3.2 Symbol and Function explanations..................................................................14
3.3 Hidden MMA functions ......................................................................................15
4 WELDING DATA MEMORY ................................................................................ 17
5 FAULT CODES ................................................................................................... 18
5.1 List of fault codes ..............................................................................................18
5.2 Fault code descriptions..................................................................................... 18
6 ORDERING SPARE PARTS ............................................................................... 21
ORDERING NUMBERS.............................................................................................22
Rights reserved to alter specifications without notice.

1 INTRODUCTION
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1 INTRODUCTION
The manual describes the use of TA34 AC/DC control panel.
For general information about operation see instruction manual for the power source.
When mains power is supplied the unit runs a self diagnosis of
the LEDs and the display, the program version is displayed and
in this example the program version is 0.18.
NOTE!
Differences in the panel function may occur, depending on in which product it is
installed.
Instruction manuals in other languages can be downloaded from the Internet: www.esab.com
1.1 Useful information about the welding product
The power source is equipped with the function True AC rating (TIG).
"True AC rating" means the average current can be maintained in the event of variations in
inductance and resistance in the welding circuit. This is the result of active process control,
which compensates for the inductance present in the welding circuit.
The process is optimised so that the energy in the arc will correspond to the set welding
current selected for AC (alternating current). Process optimisation normally leads to welding
being possible at a lower set current value (than with previous power sources) thanks to
reduced losses in the welding circuit.
For the best possible oxide break-up and a long tungsten electrode life for AC TIG, we
recommend a negative AC balance (-70%), which is also the basic setting on delivery. It is
possible to reduce the weld pool penetration for AC TIG by reducing the heat exchange by
lowering the AC balance. The minimum AC balance value is -50%, see tables 1-3 on page 8
for recommended current ranges. This primarily facilitates welding of weaker/thinner material
dimensions.
1.2 Control panel

1 INTRODUCTION
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1. Knob for setting data (current, voltage, percentage, seconds, or frequency)
2. Display
3. Choice of welding method TIG or MMA
4. Pushbutton for selection of TIG-welding with:
• Alternating current AC
• Direct current DC -
• Direct current DC - with pulsing
Pushbutton for selection of MMA-welding with:
• Alternating current AC
• Direct current DC -
• Direct current DC +
5. Choice of start HF start or LiftArc™
6. Choice of 2-stroke or 4-stroke
7. Setting from panel , program change with torch trigger switch
or connecting remote control unit
8. Display of VRD function (reduced open-circuit voltage) is active or inactive
NOTE!
This function works for power sources where it is implemented.
9. Indication of which parameter is shown in the display (current, voltage, percentage,
seconds or frequency)
10. Display of measurement value for current (A) or voltage (V) during welding.
11. Indication of selected setting parameter, see section "Symbol and Function
explanations".
The right-hand button is also used for hidden functions.
12. Buttons for weld data memory settings, see section "Welding data memory".
Measured value in the display for arc voltage V, and welding current A, is arithmetic average
value = rectified average value.

2 TIG WELDING
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2 TIG WELDING
2.1 Settings
TIG without pulsing AC/DC and TIG with pulsing DC
Function Setting range In steps of: Default
value
HF/LiftArc™1) HF or LiftArc™-LiftArc™
2/4 stroke1) 2 stroke or 4 stroke - 2 stroke
Gas pre flow time2) 0-5 s 0.1 s 0.5 s
Slope up-time 0-10 s 0.1 s 0.0 s
Slope down time 0-10 s 0.1 s 1.0 s
Gas post flow time 0-25 s 0.1 s 10.0 s
Current 4 - max3) 1 A 60 A
Active panel OFF or ON - ON
Changing trigger data OFF or ON - OFF
Remote control unit OFF or ON - OFF
Min current2) 0-99% - 0 %
VRD - - -
1) These functions cannot be changed while welding is in progress.
2) These functions are hidden Tig functions, see description in section "Hidden TIG
functions".
3) The setting range is dependent on the power source used.
TIG with AC
Function Setting range In steps of: Default
value
Balance setting 50 - 98 %* 1 % 50 %
Frequency setting 10 - 152 Hz 1 - 3 Hz 65 Hz
Electrode preheating
automatic 1)
manual

80 - 120 ms
15 - 100 ms

1
1

-
-
*)Depending on frequency setting.
1)These functions are hidden TIG functions, see description in section "Hidden TIG
functions".
TIG with pulsing DC
Function Setting range In steps of: Default
value
Pulse current 4 - max2) 1 A 60 A
Pulse time
Micro pulse1)
0.01 - 2.5 s
0.001 - 0.250 s
0.01 s
0.001 s
1.0 s

2 TIG WELDING
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Function Setting range In steps of: Default
value
Background current 4 - max2) 1 A 20 A
Background time
Micro pulse1)
0.01 - 2.5 s
0.001 - 0.250 s
0.01 s
0.001 s
1.0 s
1)These functions are hidden TIG functions, see description in section "Hidden TIG
functions".
2)The setting range is dependent on the power source used.
2.2 Symbol and Function explanations
TIG welding
TIG welding melts the metal of the workpiece, using an arc struck from a
tungsten elec- trode, which does not melt itself. The weld pool and the electrode
are protected by shielding gas.
AC, Alternating current
The advantage of an alternating current is good oxide break-up capacity when
welding light metals (aluminium, magnesium and their alloys).
Direct current
A higher current produces a wider weld pool, with better penetration into the
workpiece
Pulsed current (only DC)
Pulsing is used for improved control of the weld pool and the solidification
process. The pulse frequency is set so slow that the weld pool has time to
solidify at least partially between each pulse. In order to set pulsing, four
parameters are required: pulse current, pulse time, background current and
background time.
Parameter settings
1. Slope up 6. Slope down
2. Welding current 7. Gas post flow time
3. Pulse time 8. Balance
4. Background current 9. Frequency
5. Background time 10. Electrode preheating

2 TIG WELDING
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Slope up
The slope up function means that, when the TIG arc strikes, the current rises
slowly to the set value. This provides `gentler' heating of the electrode, and gives
the welder a chance to position the electrode properly before the set welding
current is reached.
Pulse current
The higher of the two current values in the event of pulsed current.
A. Current D. Background current
B. Time E. Pulse time
C. Background time F. Pulse current
TIG welding with pulsing.
Pulse time
The time the pulse current is on during a pulse period.
Background current
The lower of the two current values in the event of pulsed current.
Background time
Time for background current which, along with the time for pulse current, gives the pulse
period.
Slope down
TIG welding uses “slope down”, by which the current falls 'slowly' over a
controlled time, to avoid craters and/or cracks, when a weld is finished.
Gas post-flow
This controls the time during which shielding gas flows after the arc is
extinguished.
Balance
Setting the balance between the positive (+) electrode and negative (-) electrode
half period during alternating current welding (AC).
Lower balance value produces more heat on the electrode and better oxide
break-up on the workpiece.
Higher balance value produces more heat to the workpiece and better
penetration.

2 TIG WELDING
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Frequency
Lower frequency (alternating current) transfers more heat to the workpiece and
produces a wider weld pool.
Higher frequency produces a narrower arc with higher arc force (narrower weld
pool).
HF start
The HF start function strikes the arc by means of a spark from the electrode to
the workpiece as the electrode is brought closer to the workpiece.
Automatic preheating of electrode with AC
The preheating function is designed to provide a stable arc and a safe start in a
balanced manner. The electrode preheating time is controlled by a
preprogrammed time in relation to the set welding current. It is possible to set
(finetune) the automatic preheating when on the outer area of the electrode's
current range, see recommended current range below.
The setting range for preheating is 80 - 120 ms, where 100 ms is equal to the
basic value (value on delivery).
Current ranges for electrode WP (pure tungsten)
Max A AC - 50% Balance Max A AC - 70% Balance
A. Welding current A B. Electrode diameter (mm)
Table 1 - Recommended current ranges for electrode selection WP = Green Colour coding
and classification names as per ISO 6848:2004

2 TIG WELDING
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Current ranges for electrode WC20 (WCe2)
Max A AC - 50% Balance Max A AC - 70% Balance
A. Welding current A B. Electrode diameter (mm)
Table 2 - Recommended current ranges for electrode selection WC20 = Grey Colour coding
and classification names as per ISO 6848:2004
Current ranges for electrode WLa 15/Gold Plus (70% AC Balance)
I max A AC
A. Welding current A B. Electrode diameter (mm)
Table 3 - Recommended current ranges for electrode selection WLa15 = Gold Colour coding
and classification names as per ISO 6848:2004


2 TIG WELDING
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Deactivation of automatic preheating of electrode
In hidden TIG functions automatic preheating can be deactivated for a manual setting from
15 - 100 ms for adjustment in specific instances. When switching from an automatic to a
manual setting, the previous autogenerated value for preheating is used and a preferred
value is selected using the knob.
LiftArc™
The LiftArc™ function strikes the arc when the electrode is brought into contact
with the workpiece and then lifted away from it.
Striking the arc with the LiftArc™ function:
1. The electrode is touched on to the workpiece.
2. The trigger switch is pressed, and a low current starts to flow.
3. The welder lifts the electrode from the workpiece: the arc strikes, and the current rises
automatically to the set value.
2 stroke
A. Gas pre-flow C. Slope down
B. Slope up D. Gas post-flow
Functions when using 2 stroke control of the welding torch.
In the 2 stroke control mode, pressing the TIG torch trigger switch (1) starts gas pre-flow (if
used) and strikes the arc. The current rises to the set value (as controlled by the slope up
function, if in operation). Releasing the trigger switch (2) reduces the current (or starts slope
down if in operation) and extinguishes the arc. Gas post-flow follows if it is in operation.