Kweld upgrade doing its best at an amazing 3800A

[@dieselphiend]

3800a makes me wonder if it can weld copper with the addition of tungsten/copper electrodes?

[@Bisher1967]

Hi. Thanks for this informative video. Is it possible to get the details needed to convert ones own welder?

[@HealRitePT]

Awesome testing. Would a bleed resistor on the caps be beneficial in ur opinion? Thanks.

[@jansunman7393]

Yes, good point. I only use when switching off to drain the capacitors.

[@electrikeseb1247]

Salut quel type de condensateur utilise tu ? Et la tension tu est a 8v ?

[@norbertkortas58]

Do some video how to change the software of the kweld like you do :D

[@tabineshhtc]

Great

[@brianwoodburn2050]

Hi, what capacitors did you use? Did you have to reprogram the software?

[@Bisher1967]

Hi Brian. I m interested to modify my kwelder. Did you manage to find any information on the modification? What capacitors? Thanks

[@weeardguy]

Judging by the size they are some 300000 to 500000 uF caps. My 35 or 40 Volt caps are about twice as short for 100000 uF, so paired with the lower maximum voltage of the ones in the video, I consider this a good estimate. The kWeld most likely performs nothing different: it doesn't know what it's power supply is and will just drive the FETs like normal. It's the ultralow impedance caused by the large copper busbars and caps that it can (apparently, it's not shown that it's actually able to push that amount of current through the wires, which I highly doubt) that increases the maximum current. But to be honest, I doubt one manages to get it to 3800 amps. At a fully charged 12,6 Volt from the LiPo I use, it manages to draw nearly 1800 Amps in calibration mode. But the wires and electrodes feel this stress and warm up from this calibration pulse and even though the wires are very short on mine (about 120 mm in total from kWeld to battery and about 20 centimeter or so on every electrode cable) my setup gets a mad jolt from the electromagnetic forces exerted on the whole unit while mounted in my Proxxon drillstand (as I have the electrodes hanging down). I seriously do not want to think about what happens to the cables and unit at the given 3800 amps. I also think one has to wait LONG for the power supply to get the caps back up to a decent voltage. As I now work at a different place, where I can use a sophisticated milli-ohm meter, I'm now thinking of taking my kWeld there and see what the optimum torque on the bolts and nuts does to the overall resistance of the unit.

[@wearethewatt2950]

nice :-)

[@Ebikedotcom]

How to change software to do that much amperes?

[@jansunman7393]

it is not the kweld software, the mosfets are just switched with the time that is set

[@Ebikedotcom]

@@jansunman7393 so how i can do the same as you?

[@weeardguy]

@@jansunman7393 Uh yeah, it is, because the software on mine does NOT give me the opportunity to set the pulselength, only energy in Joules. The pulse-length is automatically determined by the unit, based on the current it has seen flowing through the weld.

[@jansunman7393]

@@weeardguy yes, I re-programmed the default software because with the default k-weld software it is not possible. I also have a scope attached to monitor the discharge to stay in safe boundaries wrt MOSFET failure.

[@norbertkortas58]

@@jansunman7393 In what programming language is it written? How did you modify this program?

[@rokask]

How in the world do you have 2 supercaps in parallel (2.7V each) and yet have your power supply set to 8V?

[@jansunman7393]

I do not know were you got the information that these are supercaps. They are large Electrolytic capacitors Max voltage 25V so they can contain lots of energy.

[@nonionbeezness]

These are unfortunately way overpriced for us in the USA because we are forced to buy them from a Canadian distributor. I can just dispose of and replace batteries rather than repair cells for the waste that the excessive $150-200 extra markup the Canadian distributor is selling them for. If I ever make a trip to Germany I’ll order one delivered to my hotel and get back the vat upon export. From a US consumer standpoint the existing Canada only option is nonsense. Maybe look for a US distributor as that would be better for all. Canada is known to be crazy high on taxes and duties. A US distributor should be able to sell them for your EU price minibus the 19% VAT and still make a profit rather than Canadas EU and VAT price plus $150. So Americans , don’t buy this thing as it’s relying on you being financially stupid.

[@nickldominator]

Not sure who you are buying from.. I bought a kWeld a year or so ago from a US supplier for 235 USD with free shipping. That's just $60 more than directly from Germany, not including whatever VAT or shipping would've been ontop.

[@nonionbeezness]

@@nickldominator I wonder if things changed in the year. Because the manufacturer indicates for USA and Canada the one and only distributor is the Canadian one. At least as of late 2022. There would be zero VAT on top for exports from the EU to the USA.

[@nickldominator]

@@nonionbeezness Not sure if my reply ever went through, but I can send you the email to the supplier I bought mine from. I checked their live spreadsheet of availability, and they have 13 units in stock ready to ship and still sell for $235 free shipping.

[@nonionbeezness]

@@nickldominator sure I’d be interested in taking a look at a reasonably priced US source.

[@dennisyoung4631]

Will be looking for one of these in the foreseeable future. If I must wear the label of “Stupid” or worse to get the real deal - I will, and pay the surcharge as well. I need all the help I can get.