Hi, I have built a microvawe transformer spotwelder, I have put a single turn of welder wire for in the secondary and I’m timing it with arduino. Worth mentioning it was/is a 230V transformer. Electrodes are sharpened copper rods. I believe the voltage is still high. The spotwelds it produces are slightly discolored and not as strong as you would expect. Is this design fundamentally borked? Is there anything else I can make to make it better? Photo from test stage before it was built into a project box, it is less “shocking” now.

  • Darkassassin07@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    If it’s a 240v transformer, the primary will have less turns than a 120v one. You may not have a high enough voltage out of your new secondary because of that.

      • Darkassassin07@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        You need to go up in voltage, not down.

        Try it on 240v. (check your 5v supply can handle that, or power it separately)

        • dansity@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          I have 230V or 400V three phase. I live in the EU. So this cannot be solved without replacing the winding on the transformer I guess.

          • SomeoneSomewhere@lemmy.nzEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            If you have a 230V supply and a 230V transformer, you are fine. I believe they thought you were using a 120V supply on a 230V transformer.

            Raising the input voltage will probably not get you what you want.

          • BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            If it’s just a matter of getting a larger voltage, then you already got 400V. No need for new windings, unless the insulation on the primary can’t handle 400V.