So I was welding in a few patch panels yesterday, when in between welds it randomly stopped starting to arc. It will make little sparks, but will not burn. Even against the ground. My question is where does the wire pick up the charge? The wheel inside the welder, the length of gun or the tip? It's set up reverse to weld flux.
Double check your connections. The gun lead into the machine also. Contact tip. The power goes from the lugs thru the liner up to the contact tip.
Most likely your nozzle to grounded to the tip. Take the nozzle off and clean out whatever may be in there. I have also seen the nozzle short internally. This makes a direct path for electricity to flow and no arcing to the metal you are trying to weld will happen. Clean first, the shorted nozzle is rare.
Went thru and cleaned it and replaced the tip. Same results. It's making a little spark, but nothing like it should to start welding. Even at full amps.
Unplug it, check all the connections for tightness at the main terminals. If the nozzle, tip, and feeder are clean, then it sounds like it may be a faulty power transformer/rectifier. Best left to a pro repair shop to solve the problem.
Then check the nozzle for continuity from the threads to the outer metal. It should NOT have continuity.
Mine did the same thing this winter. finally traced it to the lead inside the cable where it comes out of the welder. After years of flexing it broke enough wires that the remaining ones burnt out. I had to cut the insulation back and was able to repair it
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