I have a bit of an odd one here and am looking for ideas.
I have an old generator with auto idle. I have an older mains powered transformer mig welder (no microprocessor anywhere in it). What I would like to do is make the generator go to auto idle when the mig welder is not welding.
I can get the engine/generator to auto idle by simply disconnecting the cooling fan. The welder has a 240V cooling fan that runs all the time on it.
The welder has a small transformer on it that outputs 24V, 36V and 110V all AC. I have connected a 24V computer fan to it via a bridge rectifier and it will run and the engine will auto idle as the computer fan must draw so little current of course they slow down when the engine is at idle.
The welder also has a thermal cutout mounted on the welder diode rectifier so if the diodes get too hot it should cut power to the wire feeder.
My plan was to connect two computer fans via a bridge rectifier to cool the welder rectifier diodes. Also add a 70 degree?? thermal switch to the welder rectifier connected to the main fan, so should it get that hot the main fan would cut in.
Can you run three 12V fans in series off a rectified and smoothed 24V AC supply (so you get around 34VDC.)
Anyone have any other ideas?