RECI W8 180W laser tube issue

[Chuck Kahler]

RECI W8 180W tube issue


Was cutting at about 40% power and after about six minutes the laser quit cutting.

It has been working great up until this incident.

Any suggestions on where to start troubleshooting this issue?

Thanks,
Chuck

[Bert Kemp]

First I would make sure the water flow sensor is working and the tube is getting water. Then I would check all the door safety switches make sure their all making a connection.

[Chuck Kahler]

Thanks Bert, I’ll check those out tomorrow.
chuck

[Bert Kemp]

Did you find the problem?

[Chuck Kahler]

With Thanksgiving holidays, I have not got to the shop to further diagnose my issue.
hopefully later on today.

I do know that it is not the waterflow sensor or the door switches.

my power supply is showing the proper DC voltage in and voltage out but no amps out

[Kev Williams]

Just from reading other such posts over the years, if you haven't yet, check both wires to the laser, more than one person has had that problem--

[Chuck Kahler]

Thank you, I will be checking that later today and report back.
Chuck

[Chuck Kahler]

The wiring appears OK.


It looks like my RECI P18 Power supply has gone bad.
this is a bit surprising because it doesn’t have a lot of hours on it. it’s only out pulling 1.8 mA and the RECI W8 laser tube requires 3 mA to fire it.


I have ordered a replacement power supply made by “light object”.

will report back when I get the new power supply.
Thanks for all the help,
Chuck

[Rich Harman]

It looks like my RECI P18 Power supply has gone bad.
this is a bit surprising because it doesn’t have a lot of hours on it. it’s only out pulling 1.8 mA and the RECI W8 laser tube requires 3 mA to fire it.

Pretty sure the same thing happens when the tube goes bad.

If you watch the tube while firing it can give you a clue.

[Chuck Kahler]

It appears that nothing is happening in the tube when I try to fire the laser.

chuck

[Bert Kemp]

Not surprising if your Pwr supply is not putting out.

[Rich Harman]

That is a good indication that it is not the tube.

[Dave Sheldrake]

You measuring residual current (at the black wire from the tube) or on the actual PSU Chuck?

[Chuck Kahler]

I fired the tube, Shut everything down and
then checked to see if there was any residual voltage at the negative side of the tube.

there was no residual voltage, suggesting the power supply what is the issue.

chuck



This method was suggested by Marco from “Light object’s”.

[Chuck Kahler]

Not surprising if your Pwr supply is not putting out.

Yes, sounds reasonable, the only thing that surprises me is this RECI Power supply does not have very many hours use on it.

chuck