New Spot Welder Testing. Is it the new king?

[@dantronics1682]

I noticed you said at 1:00 that the mosfets were small, were you talking about the specs of the mosfet or the size? R in 7 segment looks like an A but I think only people who did electronics before the 90s would know.

[@stevenc22]

More the physical size than the rating

[@markb1911]

I envy whatever version of the BIFRC you have, because I’ve been through 3 with the same setup. Although the photo was of a similar model, ebay and ali sellers do copy-paste each other’s photos, and none of the similar looking models I’ve gotten have a serial number or version printed on them. I’ve begun reverse-engineering the 8-fet BIFRC board because I want to understand which component is failing and causing fets to blow. I suspect the emitter-follower current-gain circuit (2 SOT-23 mosfets near the MCU & color-changing led) is receiving some of the avalanche-voltage spike from the shutoff inductance of the fets and cables because it does not have a protection TVS diode, and the cap is only across the input. It could just be that I’ve used knockoffs with sub-par components, however. This authentic BIFRC has become hard to acquire I think.

[@stevenc22]

Agreed. I got a couple other BIFRC boards which were similar but not the same. They did work but weren't the same. Some of the other spot welders I bought recently were pretty good and more readily available.

[@markb1911]

@@stevenc22 I decided to try some other spot welding pcb’s while the bifrc’s are out of commission, and have had very good luck thus far with the readily available “99 Gears” purple pcb, (which is for 0-99ms) and another green one very similar, except it’s display is just one digit & has wider power divisions. (0-9) Purple one has thicker copper pcb masking so it’s got more kick & less generated heat from resistance though. I’ve only had them about a month, though. Time will tell.

[@eboeyoyooor7685]

Did the aliexpress GX591 come with a small coil of nickel strip? I couldn't tell from the pictures. Thanks

[@stevenc22]

Yes

[@WilfTV]

I just want to ask if you used 12 volts on that welder?

[@willytrumpold3179]

It's the output trans divided into 3 banks on 1 you only power 1/3 of output trans!;-)) nice video

[@howardbealeau]

The BIFRC V1.2 board that I bought from BangGood some time ago didn't function because it has a 0603 SMD resistor (R4) missing. It's just above the KEY pad. Can someone let me know what value they used? I replaced it with 100kOhm which seems to work.

[@rvc1rvc1]

The bifrc has a key pad next to the connector. Any idea if you could hook up a pedal or button switch to it? Would be nice to have instead of the automated timed pulses. great video's on spot welder boards btw :)

[@calculatedrush]

Yeah it allows for a footpedal

[@themastereal8345]

How do i connect a footswitch? The barrel port has something to do with it

[@botanysilkiebreeders7732]

For use with the YXKY Buy any switch and barrel jack and when the barrel jack circuit is closed i'm guessing it turns on? I'm buying this one because it has the barrel jack for use with the YXKY pen

[@joeKisonue]

I'd like to see a new tip design with a tube and a post inside to weld a bullseye

[@stevenc22]

Interesting design

[@lolslim690]

Would this still be a recommendation for budget spot welder since its been 3 months? I am considering this spot welder, and figured I would chime in and ask about your experience so far.

[@stevenc22]

The BIFRC and the JQ are the two o recommend and use

[@ringsingrain]

any particular reason you stopped using this one instead of the jq? i tried both and this new one hits much harder @@stevenc22

[@cabledoctor5954]

What model is the BIFRC? Where can I buy it?

[@dariusvaitkus965]

What is the model of mosfets on that board ?

[@beauevans9027]

How thick was the nickel strip you were testing with?

[@stevenc22]

Always 0.15

[@TumbleFig]

I think it would've been fairer to only use the leads that came with it. That's probably what most people will use.

[@stevenc22]

True but my BIFRC also has upgraded leads so to make the comparison fair...

Great review Steve. I'm new to spot welding and I bought exactly this model to start (GX591) from AliExpress, thanks to your review. Could I power it with a pack of 6 x 18650 (3S2P 12,6V, between 4 and 5Ah)? Anybody could help? Mine is arriving next week. Thank you guys

[@chrismagallanes8858]

What leads are those?

[@stikosek]

Hey, nice video! Just wanted to drop by and ask if using a standard 18v drill battery would be sufficient for such a spot welder? It would save some money if i didn't have to buy a dedicated battery.

[@stevenc22]

Unfortunately I don't think so. You need 100+ amps to weld. A drill battery is rated for about 20 amps

[@stikosek]

@@stevenc22 Thanks for the insight, I'll probably find some older high-amperage car battery instead then

[@docwilson5384]

Stevenc22 I love to thank you bro i learned so much from you building battery packs and everything, Thank you for your time bro....Peace

[@LEONDELASIERRA1]

Hi can i use a car 12v battery on both of this spot welders?if not what is the best choice out there?

[@stevenc22]

Yes you can.

[@LEONDELASIERRA1]

@@stevenc22 can a 12v 600 cca be good?

[@stevenc22]

@@LEONDELASIERRA1 yes

[@LEONDELASIERRA1]

Sorry that I'm asking all this questions, I'm new at all of this and I'm trying to build a battery pack for my daughters scooter..I bought a cheap cheap pcb an I burned it lol to a 850cca battery.

[@Gromph80]

Hey Steve, luckily i found your vid. Nothing else to find about this welder. I got mine and tested just 2 each 0.1mm strips with p01 and d05. The strips are totally burned now, meaning having 2 huge holes. And it was sparking like hell. As you mentioned the "documentation" is kind of useless. To be honest, I was using a lead-acid battery with 95Ah, but this battery is of 2009 and was replaced of my car last year. Manufacturer advices to not use too powerful batteries. I was wondering if you tried "over-powered" batteries? I'll start a second run with 2 or 3 (again old) 16Ah bats in parallel tomorrow. For my understanding a spot welder shorts the battery for a defined time interval. So there shouldn't be an issue with using higher Amp-hours. Do you agree? Thanks for the clarification.

[@stevenc22]

Try making bigger weld tips to spread the current over a bigger spot or use thinner cables to limit the current some.

[@Gromph80]

I used the stock tips, way bigger then yours. Actually these shown by you but not used. But maybe I should point with them the most vertical to increase the contact surface. Good point. Thx, I'll report back

[@zoeconner11]

Didn't have mine for 20min and shorted. Something burnt up.

[@docwilson5384]

Steve i just received my Spot Welder today could you post what sizes nickle strip to purchase for this spot welder, don't mean to sound stupid or to bother you but i order some nickle strip and it was the wrong size and real thin roll strip of nickle strip. Trying to learn stop welding from your channel. Thank you and stay bless...Peace

[@stevenc22]

Try 0.15mm x 8mm

[@docwilson5384]

@@stevenc22 thank you...Peace

[@97samperio]

What do u use to charge your battery?

[@stevenc22]

A RC charger. I use the isdt Q8

[@andreasmoll_0924]

Dc or Ac Power suply?

[@stevenc22]

Dc

[@tllower]

I need help please! My wife's ebike has a damaged charging port on her 48v batt I have taken batt apart and charging port comes right out quick disconnect and everything but do you think I can find a new one!!!!! No. Manufactured in China no support to get parts grrrrr

[@stevenc22]

Just change the port to a barrel connection and change the charger to a barrel connection

[@tllower]

@@stevenc22 what do you mean by barrel?

[@stevenc22]

@@tllower www.amazon.com/dp/B072BXB2Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_apa_gl_i_898BQJS53V57VZGKYCK7?linkCode=ml2&tag=stevenc22-20

[@joeKisonue]

Do you not prefer the gun/handle that holds the needles close and has a plastic handle?

[@stevenc22]

I like the idea of a spot welding handle, just haven't found the right one for me

[@joeKisonue]

@@stevenc22 how about chop stick cheater to hold the two needles you already use?

[@stevenc22]

Good idea

[@joeKisonue]

So 20 gear?

[@stevenc22]

Yeah about that 👍

[@oturanboga6225]

[@christianstclaire5706]

You should have used the Leads that came with the Spot Welder so that we know what to expect, this is not a fair review as you modify before even trying by second guessing the unit, ach, you just could not help yourself , right ?! LOL thanks anyways for your video, oh BTW do you think this would work with 2x Dewalt 20v 5 ah Batteries in Parallel , I am about to find out , those Dewalt Batteries can deliver a lot of juice as they are expected to power small and big tools .

[@ahbrands2336]

Not work

[@avnerabulash]

Hello. Please do a Hebrew translation as well.

[@godblessthelessfortunate3175]

Model GX591, no manufacturer name that I know of.

[@zoeconner11]

Didn't have mine for 20min and shorted. Something burnt up.

[@calculatedrush]

What power supply were you using and how many batteries did you go through in 20min? Asking so I might be able to not burn mine out

[@zoeconner11]

@@calculatedrush I used a power pack for a car. Too much voltage. Be careful if you use output cables and lipo. Makes cables live. Works great on lipo 4S 5000mah