[ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

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Togata
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[ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by Togata »

Dear Community,

I am an owner of a Powermax 45 XP unit, It has been in use for 7 months only.

Recently, we have encountered a overheating problem in the unit, because the fan is overworked, we can hear a heavy sound due to the speed and airflow of the fan.
We can share a video, below you can find the youtube link.

https://youtube.com/shorts/B_OEwO2_9TA?feature=share

This heavy sound was not normal, the unit was silent till now, I looked upon the service and operation manual and couldn't find a clue.

Could you please enlighten me on this subject?
adbuch
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Re: [ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by adbuch »

Maybe some debris caught in fan, or damaged bearings. I would take off he cover and have a look.
David
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Re: [ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by weldguy »

I am not sure there is anything wrong with it, that poor little plasma cutter can only do so much. Doesn't sounds like there is anything wrong with the fan mechanically either.

Have had my Powermax 85 do the same when cutting at max amps for prolonged periods of time to the point where the over temp light comes on and you can't cut again until it cools off.

What amperage are you cutting at and for what period of time before this occurs?

It is also possible that the machine is full of dust now and not efficiently shed heat causing the fan to work come on more frequently and at higher rpms.
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tinspark
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Re: [ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by tinspark »

I have the same unit. The fan kicks on when it needs to cool. It is normal for it to cycle on and off. Sometimes on hotter days it is on most of the time. In the winter it doesn't cycle as much. Most newer welding machines do too... "Fan On Demand".
Doug,
4x4 GoTorch- expanded
Height Control/Advanced DesignEdge
Hypertherm 45XP-
Logan Lathe + myriads of other shop toys
**CAUTION**- "Does Not Play Well With Others" :)
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tinspark
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Re: [ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by tinspark »

There is an overtemp light on the front panel. If it is lit yellow, I believe it may be getting hot. (your video shows all green lights)
You can also look at your manual. Here is an excerpt the manual:

Leave the plasma power supply ON to allow the
fan to cool the internal components. See
Understand duty cycle to prevent
overheating on page 58.

It is perfectly fine to run it with the fan on. A few summers back it was 110 degF here, and not much cooler in my shop and I got the yellow overheat light. I set up an additional external fan on it and it was fine..

See page 144 and comments:
https://www.weldersupply.com/Content/fi ... rCodes.pdf
Last edited by tinspark on Tue May 24, 2022 2:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Doug,
4x4 GoTorch- expanded
Height Control/Advanced DesignEdge
Hypertherm 45XP-
Logan Lathe + myriads of other shop toys
**CAUTION**- "Does Not Play Well With Others" :)
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tinspark
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Re: [ Unusual Fan Sound - Overheating issue - Seeking Help! ]

Post by tinspark »

adbuch wrote: Mon May 23, 2022 7:47 am Maybe some debris caught in fan, or damaged bearings. I would take off he cover and have a look.
David
I blow mine out often and get a dust cloud out of it at times. They dont like dirt or too much heat
Doug,
4x4 GoTorch- expanded
Height Control/Advanced DesignEdge
Hypertherm 45XP-
Logan Lathe + myriads of other shop toys
**CAUTION**- "Does Not Play Well With Others" :)
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