PlasmaC Voltage Divider

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20 Jul 2025 06:06 #332048 by zzrzzr
PlasmaC Voltage Divider was created by zzrzzr
Hi,

i'm looking for a good plasmacutter that works with plasmac.

What if the plasmacutter doesn't have an internal voltage divider ? Then the THCAD 300 would be good, but its out of stock everywhere. What is the alternative if I want to use THAD 5 oder 10 ? 

To buy a Proma voltage-divider or is there another professional-looking alternative ?
And maybe you can recommend a plasmacutter for plasmaC ?

Thanks.

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20 Jul 2025 14:15 #332059 by PCW
Replied by PCW on topic PlasmaC Voltage Divider
You can use a THCAD2 or  THCAD-10 with a series resistor
or resistors, for example  2.4M will give a 250V full scale range.

Mesa has a set of three .4W  1M .1% resistors for this purpose, when used
with a THCAD-10  or a THCAD2 set for 10V you get:

1 = 110V full scale
2 in series  210V full scale
3 in series  310V full scale

Note that lower voltage ranges improve resolution so the 210 V range is fine for most
plasma systems as it will accept continuous inputs over 1000V without damage
and voltages over 200V are not typically useful when cutting.

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21 Jul 2025 09:53 #332107 by zzrzzr
Replied by zzrzzr on topic PlasmaC Voltage Divider
Thanks a lot for your replies.

The stahlwerk-plasmacutters look good.
 
I already have a THCAD10 that I use for my hypertherm powermax 1000g3, but the cut quality on the hyptherm is not the best because there is a thermal dynamics-torch mounted on the machine and it doesn't cut without an angle at 10mm steel (2mm bevel to the other side). I already changed most of the parts exept the starter cartrigde, and if I can't get it to work properly I need to buy another plasma-machine. 

So I could change the Plasmacutter and still use the THCAD-10 if I add series resistors.
Maybe you can explain which exact resistor(s) I need and how exactly the resistors should be added to the plasma-cutter ? I
Somewhere I read that the THCAD should not be placed inside the controller-box ? Is that right ? So where should I put the THCAD 10 and the resistors ? 

Thanks

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21 Jul 2025 13:36 #332120 by PCW
Replied by PCW on topic PlasmaC Voltage Divider
The resistor(s) go in series with the plasma voltage  to the negative THCAD input
Safety wise the resistors should be in the plasma source itself.

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21 Jul 2025 16:39 #332133 by zzrzzr
Replied by zzrzzr on topic PlasmaC Voltage Divider
Thanks.

So I could open the Plasma source, cut the cable behind the THC-plug and solder 2 x 1MegaOhm in series of the negative cable and put a shrink tubing over the 2 resistors ?

Is there an alternative to the 1MegaOhm-resistor ? I ask because in the mesanet-store it shows me over 200$ shipping-cost for the 3 resistors and there is an error when the website calculates shipping costs to germany.

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21 Jul 2025 17:26 #332137 by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic PlasmaC Voltage Divider
Put 1 resistor on each cable, much safer.
www.mouser.de/ProductDetail/Vishay-Dale/...rmWJGO8s8TXMfjOoM%3D

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