Got my arduino spot welder earlier this week(https://malectrics.eu/product/diy-arduino-battery-spot-welder-prebuilt-kit-v3/). It was working amazing for 100 welds. Then I heard a pop, and saw a flash from the arduino unit. Every time I would place the probes on the nickel strip(or anything that creates continuity) I would get smoke from the unit.
I immediately disconnected everything. After some inspection I saw this small… whatever it is on the bottom of the unit burnt. I think it’s a diode, I am totally not sure. Was my 12v 100AH battery too much?
Can anyone smarter than me check out the diagram and let me know a suitable replacement for whatever it is I burned. Iv’e looked at the diagram(https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/FVN/JRZ1/J70QPQB7/FVNJRZ1J70QPQB7.pdf) but it’s just not clear exactly what it is. I’m 99 percent sure its a diode just because of the placement and where it’s located.
Update 10.2017:
Although the SMD TVS diode has pretty much the same specs as the bigger
through hole TVS Diode used on the previous Spot Welder versions it seems to struggle with very strong car batteries. There where some fails of the diode reported by users who used 800 CCA or stronger batteries. So i decided to replace the diode with the through hole version, which is a bit more robust.
The BOM was already updated with the new TVS diode.
Here is how to install it to the pcb:
Scratch of the solder stop paint from the ractangle part with the many holes on the pcb with a box knife and add some solder to the blank copper on the scratched area. We need this because the through hole TVS diode is a bit wider than the SMD version.
Bend the through hole TVS diodes legs 90 degrees as close as possible to the diode and cut them short so the diode can be mounted on the pcb. Then put some solder on the legs and solder the diode to the pcb. Solder the left side first. When the diode stays in place solder the right side (scratched pcb side). Make sure to use a powerful enough soldering iron so you dont heat the diode very long. It is necessary to solder the diode directly on the pcb without extension wires. This way it does the best job eliminating the high voltage spikes.
Thank you I totally missed that update on the page. I ordered it on 9/30 so i must have literally just missed the cutoff for that update. That means it definitely was the larger battery that caused it. I’ll order it and solder it on.
It can do more I’ll just need to upgrade the connections/wiring. The cells themselves could do 320-400A cont, 800A burst in the bank I’m planning to use. They’re all harvested power tool cells, not laptop cells.
Sounds like a massive beast of a battery. The ease of use is much better than the sunkko. However the sunkko put out some decent welds too.
I’m wondering if the diode I used is going to cause some issues I can’t find any info on labeling of diodes. The one I used was similar size/look to the one on the BOM. All it says on it is 680. I am wondering if it’s even a TVS diode or not?
I’ve built a car battery spot welder before, it works but unreliable and uncontrollable.
I use diff settings for various nickel thickness and depending what it’s being welded to.
Also Auto-weld is awesome.
Ive blown holes in cells with a car battery spot welder lol
Will be hooked up to 4S80P 18650 bank, can easily burst 200-300A
I can’t find any info on labeling of diodes. The one I used was similar size/look to the one on the BOM. All it says on it is 680. I am wondering if it’s even a TVS diode or not?
