I've only cut up to 16ga stainless so far with it. At like 27 amps. And I have to put my shitty compressor on another circuit or you can hear the compressor slow down with the cutter is on, doesnt trip the breaker though. I also can only cut for like 30 seconds at a time and then have to wait for the compressor to fill back up. Because its a tiny 1.5gal stupid thing. Next garage purchase is finally going to be a big compressor, probably in the spring.

Started using my alphatig 200x last night. It wouldn't start an arc like it normally does.

I have to ground the tungsten, then give it current and lift off to start an arc.

Something I'm doing wrong? Or broken?

High frequency start is borked. Either setting is off or broken.

It buzzes like HF is working.

No setting for it.

So you have to scratch start it?

Yes. I believe so.

Tungsten on metal. Pedal down, pull tungsten off to start arc.

This.

Thats what i figured. Message sent to customer support, lets see how this goes.

Just some random things to try that you've already probably tried.
Cycle all of the switches on the front
Wiggle all of the knobs
Try to start an arc on ac and dc
Get a large ungrounded piece of metal and see if you can get the high freq start to get a weak spark started
Try the goofy finger switch
Check over your torch and make sure connectivity is all there

Let the AHP bros know that you're not incompetent and can solder.

Make sure the ground clamp to wire connection isnt fucked.

Would that mess with the HF only? Because it welds just fine once the arc starts.

Possibly, or the ground connection between the part and the clamp sucks and doesnt get good till you get a bit melty at that spot first.

I have been looking at the AHP machines and am interested to see how they deal with your issues. If you have trouble try complaining on weld.com. They seem to pay attention to the people on there.

Haven't heard anything. Need to do some more experimentation and make sure it definitely is broken.

I thought their customer service was outstanding. Tobin was my contact, he walked me through a couple of things and determined it was in the circuit board where all the knobs are. I opted to have it shipped both ways (at my cost) to have the board replaced and run through it's paces. It was under two weeks round trip. My two cents.

You paid shipping? What were your other options.

Yeah, I know. You would think if it was under warranty they would eat the shipping. Maybe I should have pressed it harder. I don't think the board I had to replace was going to be user friendly for me.

Yeah I had the same thing happen on my everlast but they made me ship the whole thing, at my cost ($90?), and then didn't return it for 4 months. I called repeatedly and got no answer and when I did it was a lie. "Oh that should be going out end of this week, or beginning of next week." Really soured the relationship. I had to buy my pedal from them but I would never buy another welder. Had great service with usaweld.

Have you tried pressing the tungsten tip firmly to the base metal, then lift to set your tip distance, then start? I do that and never had it arc start fail since.

Haven't tried it yet. Cat shows up today, I'll try again.

Havent heard anything back, need to call them.