Confused about wiring Warner Crawford Etcher

PIndelicato

PIndelicato

Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Messages
1,577
I'm ready to making all of my connections on the Warner Crawford etcher, but I'm confused about the wiring. I had read before that the 'modified' wiring for 12V was a good idea, so I did a Google search trying to find out how to modify the circuit. Between reading some of that and the minimal instructions that came with the transformer, I'm confused.

First of all, the transformer instructions say to use only 2 of the 3 available taps (one yellow and one black, or 2 yellow.) My first point of confusion is that the Crawford instructions have all 3 wires being connected.

Then, I was reading this thread in my search trying to learn how to wire it in the 'modified' form, and this talks about how the Crawford circuit has one of the transformer taps grounded, and that that should never be done (or even work from what I can gather.) http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/609064-Looking-for-electro-etch-plans/page3

Finally, there is this circuit, which shows the unused transformer tap being taped off http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/electro-etcher_circuit.pdf

and this circuit, from the above thread, which has a switch sending the unused tap to ground. http://users.volstate.net/~smarston/EEWS.PDF

So, can anyone help clear up this confusion for me about the unused transformer tap, and also how to wire the circuit in the 'modified' form?

Thanks!
 
Mabye I'm just a little slow but I cant make heads or tails of these wiring schematics. I realy want to make one of these electro etchers but I look at it and get discouraged because I just cant understand what the heck is going on.... Mabye I'll just buy the bits and peices and get someone smarter to hook it up for me lol
 
The_cutting_edge said:
Mabye I'm just a little slow but I cant make heads or tails of these wiring schematics. I realy want to make one of these electro etchers but I look at it and get discouraged because I just cant understand what the heck is going on.... Mabye I'll just buy the bits and peices and get someone smarter to hook it up for me lol
Click to expand...

There is one on Kijiji in Ontario-
Etch-O-Matic Electro Etcher kit by Martronics kijiji


7090h0f_19.jpeg
 
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Well, I'm (still) confused too, The-cutting-edge! I understood the Crawford instructions to be for building the 24V version, and that since that tutorial was done it was found that 12V works just as well and makes stencils last longer. The Crawford tutorial instructions have connections being made for all 3 transformer taps, with apparently one of them going to ground.

As far as following this one: http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/electro-etcher_circuit.pdf , I'm not sure I know enough electronics to build something off of a schematic drawing alone. I'll have to study it and compare it to the Crawford instructions to see if it makes sense to me. Is this one the 12V version by the way?
 
Thanks Tait, that does help. After some more studying I think I have the wiring figured out on this thing. I'm almost done, if I can just figure out how to make connections to this silly DPDT switch from Radio Shack. :p I can't get the wires to stay tight on the little screw terminals, and my attempt at soldering them on didn't work out.
 
P J 234 said:
I'm almost done, if I can just figure out how to make connections to this silly DPDT switch from Radio Shack.

I can't get the wires to stay tight on the little screw terminals, and my attempt at soldering them on didn't work out.
Click to expand...

You can crimp and solder these, then screw tmem on.

350__1_10200062.jpg
 
I just stripped the ends a little long then bent them in a U shape, then put them in so that tightening the screw would tighten loop around the screw - worked fine...
 
I looked around for some of those in my electronic supply stash but didn't have any and didn't feel like driving all the way to Radio Shack to buy some.

I did what you said, Tait, but the screws were so small they just wanted to squeeze the wires back out AND to make matters worse, loosen up easily and re-release the wires that I got to 'stick'. I have them all on at the moment, but will likely re-do them later.

When I was trying out the completed etcher out for the first time, I inadvertently touched the alligator clip holding my Q-tip directly to the blade I was working on for just a split second. I got sparks and quite a dramatic mark on the blade where it touched, and I thought I had fried my brand new etcher. It seems to be working so hopefully no damage was done, but just a reminder that these things can be potentially dangerous and not to get complacent with them.
 
Not in this case, but I've used that trick before. I tried just removing the screws and soldering directly to the tabs that the screws were threaded in to. The tabs are relatively thick and couldn't get enough heat in them for the solder to flow into/onto the tab itself...it was only flowing into the wire. I think 1234...'s suggestion would probably work best in this case.
 
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