Power supply fried?

Hardware settings, adjustments and fixes and other hardware discussion. This includes the "doHICky" Laser Power measurement system by Russ.
Leopold Frilot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Country: United States
Nickname: Leo
Laser Machine Make or Type: Chinese Red and Black (Upgraded version)
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 20"x28"
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.34
Windows Version: Vista
Accessories: Rotary axis for cylinders, Rotary axis for chuck, Model 3000 chiller

Well, it happened. After 42 days of use… power supply fried 😱🤬😡 I think?
But I got my big project finished so not completely angry. Ok, moderately upset. Video shows me hitting the pulse button 3 times. Arcing on each press. Contacted customer service.
Oh well, my 11 second video is too large. Here’s a couple of snapshots.
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Doug Fisher
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Country: USA
Laser Machine Make or Type: Ke Hui KH-7050
Laser Power: 80W EFR F2
Laser Bed Size: 700x500
Home Position: TR
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: v8.01.18 & 8.01.33
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: 10
Accessories: Ruida RDC6442G EC controller, 2" lens, S&A CW5000 chiller, chuck type of rotary attachment, Russ' DoHickey (sp?), mA meter, a growing collection of tools and oddities to keep it running!

In case it might help you diagnose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWCPxQ ... e=youtu.be
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Gene Uselman
Posts: 2180
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016
Location: Suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Country: USA
Nickname: Gene
Laser Machine Make or Type: QC
Laser Power: 130W
Laser Bed Size: 900x1300
Home Position: TR
Control Software: LIGHTBURN
RDWorks Version: RDw .19 & Lightburn
LightBurn Version: Latest
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win 10 Pro
Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.

Video shows me hitting the pulse button 3 times. Arcing on each press. Contacted customer service.
This could be a important clue, do you know where it is arcing>
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Jeffrey Aley
Posts: 388
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017
Location: Folsom, California
Country: United States
Laser Machine Make or Type: Kehui
Laser Power: 50W
Laser Bed Size: 500mmx300mm
Home Position: TL
RDWorks Version: 8.01.24
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win10 Enterprise
Accessories: Spray bottle with water (for small fires)
Fire extinguisher (for big fires)

Hmm. I am under the impression that when the High Voltage (HV) Power Supply (PS) "fries", it stops working altogether. No arc, no nothing. The fact that you have an arcing sound tells me that your PS isn't dead. It may be so sick that it's not usable, but it's not dead.

So that takes us to Gene's question - where is the arc? Does the system work if you simply correct the arcing?

If you are not comfortable working around HIGH VOLTAGE THAT CAN KILL YOU (I'm not exaggerating), then stop, and let a professional do it.

Step 1. Unplug the laser. Let it sit for a few hours so that any residual voltage drains away.
Step 2. Visually inspect the inside of the laser for evidence of arcing. There is a heavy wire coming out of the HV PS. Follow its path from the PS to the laser tube. Carefully inspect for blackening / burn marks, particularly anywhere the wire is near the frame (e.g. where it goes through holes in the frame), at any connectors, and near the connection to the tube itself. A flashlight and perhaps a small mirror would be helpful. You may see the burn mark not on the wire, but on the adjacent part of the frame / case.
Step 2a. If you don't find any evidence of the arcing, then remove the part of the case that covers the tube. On my laser, that "door" does not stay open without me holding it (BAD!!) so I have to remove it. Open other doors on the case along the path of the high voltage. Then plug in the laser, turn off the lights, and have a friend (STANDING AT A DISTANCE) watch when you press the pulse button. Hopefully they can see approximately where the arc is. Then you can repeat Steps 1 and 2 above. Do NOT touch any part of the case when you pulse!

Step 3. Correct any problems that you find :-) Or, post your findings here, and we can give you advice on how to fix the problem.

Good luck, and stay SAFE!
Leopold Frilot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Country: United States
Nickname: Leo
Laser Machine Make or Type: Chinese Red and Black (Upgraded version)
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 20"x28"
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.34
Windows Version: Vista
Accessories: Rotary axis for cylinders, Rotary axis for chuck, Model 3000 chiller

It's arcing inside the power supply module. Nowhere else that I can see.The blueish purple light in the second pic is the arc I'm referring to. I haven't removed the power supply yet, but eventually I will. Waiting to hear back from technical service rep. Its still under warranty. Thanks for the safety advise, good stuff.
Jeffrey Aley
Posts: 388
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017
Location: Folsom, California
Country: United States
Laser Machine Make or Type: Kehui
Laser Power: 50W
Laser Bed Size: 500mmx300mm
Home Position: TL
RDWorks Version: 8.01.24
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win10 Enterprise
Accessories: Spray bottle with water (for small fires)
Fire extinguisher (for big fires)

Ah, so. In that case, you're right - it's time for a new PS.

Best of luck with the warranty. And please do let us know your experience (and the name of the company you're dealing with). To be honest, I'd start out with low expectations. That way you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Leopold Frilot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Country: United States
Nickname: Leo
Laser Machine Make or Type: Chinese Red and Black (Upgraded version)
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 20"x28"
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.34
Windows Version: Vista
Accessories: Rotary axis for cylinders, Rotary axis for chuck, Model 3000 chiller

So far they have been giving great service. Ordered a spare tube that arrived shattered and they had another in the mail the same day.
I'm dealing with an ebay company "star-shopx"
Leopold Frilot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Country: United States
Nickname: Leo
Laser Machine Make or Type: Chinese Red and Black (Upgraded version)
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 20"x28"
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.34
Windows Version: Vista
Accessories: Rotary axis for cylinders, Rotary axis for chuck, Model 3000 chiller

Tech support asked me to remove the cover and shoot another video. It’s arcing in this corner between the do-hickey and frame. I see evidence of arcing on both do-hickeys. Sorry I don’t know the proper term for those. Maybe transformers 🤷🏻‍♂️
Anyone ever saw this before? I can only send a still frame but I have a video. If you want to see it send me your email address or cell# for text.
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Leopold Frilot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Country: United States
Nickname: Leo
Laser Machine Make or Type: Chinese Red and Black (Upgraded version)
Laser Power: 60W
Laser Bed Size: 20"x28"
Home Position: TR
RDWorks Version: 8.01.34
Windows Version: Vista
Accessories: Rotary axis for cylinders, Rotary axis for chuck, Model 3000 chiller

So tech support is telling me the high voltage bag broke causing this arcing. And they can send me that part to replace it. 🤔 But I don’t know what they mean by “part”. Are they sending me another bag or another power supply? While waiting on their reply to the question, has anyone here ever replaced a high voltage bag?
Pete Cyr
Posts: 1964
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2016
Location: Suffolk Virginia
Country: United States
Laser Machine Make or Type: Boss 1630
Laser Power: 100w
Laser Bed Size: 16"x30"
Home Position: TR
Control Software: RDWORKS
RDWorks Version: v8.01.18
Ruida Controller: RDC6442
Windows Version: Win 10
Accessories: roller rotary attachment

I would guess they are going to send you a bag
Location - VA
Equipment - Boss Laser 1630
Power - 100W
Laser Bed Size - 16" x 30"
Home Position - TR
Full RDWorks Version - v8.01.18
First name - Pete
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