| [ Total Views: 1142 | Total Replies: 13 | Thread Id: 83783 ] |
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 type3lover
A.k.a.: The Smashed Repairer
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| posted on May 20th, 2010 at 08:15 PM |
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electrical precautions for welding?
Hey y'all,
I have a question about the possibility of damage to electronic components while performing welding on the bodywork...
Being on fuel injection I have obviously removed the ecu, and the engine is out so no alternator and the battery has also been removed.
I'll be using the TIG welding process which is reverse polarity to mig or stick, so worried about anything that is connected to the chassis earth
including things like radio and electronic gauges. Of course there is nothing to complete the circuit so no current will flow but I have heard of
transient voltages, currents damaging equipment when welding.
Any advice appreciated as I am very much a novice when it comes to welding.
Cheers! Toby 
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bajachris88
A.k.a.: Chris Leete
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 12:46 AM |
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Hi Toby. don't stress hey.
You could weld a computer case together with all the internals in it and still have it work.
An electrical current will always favour the easiest root when it comes to the 'ground' relavent to the circuit. In the case of the welder, its the
idea of going straight to the earth lead, simply through the body metal.
Think of the electrical current as a river, and you have a 'lattice' full of creeks, dams and steams, if u had water flowing in one end, and the
only exit was through another, flow is only going to be in that direction. Another reason why if u touch the chassis while welding you won't get
electricuted.
Just make sure the heat isn't near anything too delicate, and u will be fine . Thats more ur concern.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
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New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta! |
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type3lover
A.k.a.: The Smashed Repairer
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 12:23 PM |
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Cheers for the reply Chris!
I don't think I'll try welding a computer case haha but let me know how that goes if you ever try it 
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 barls
A.k.a.: Mr indestructible
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 02:01 PM |
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personally i would put one of the anti spike units on before welding. as i like my electrical working and hate fault finding and im an electronics
tech.
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type3lover
A.k.a.: The Smashed Repairer
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 02:58 PM |
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Thanks Barls!
I'm not familiar with those. I also have a background in electronics but not trade qualified. So do you think that without anti spike units welding
TIG could potentially cause electronics damage on a car? As I mentioned...the polarity is REVERSED on DC TIG so the earth clamp is positive. BTW it's
an ebay inverter TIG I'll be using.
To be safe, I have removed and disconnected from + and - all instruments or electronics.
Not trying to discount what Chris said. There is now no risk of damage on the car, but I'm still interested to know more...
I'm thinking I read somewhere to disconnect battery neg and alternator positive before welding on a vehicle?
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barls
A.k.a.: Mr indestructible
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 03:18 PM |
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so long as the equipment is earthed it may cause a problem. but it will mainly be the stereo and any other electronics that are fitted that id worry
about. it is a good idea to disconnect the battery as for the rest ive only ever welded with a mig.
you could try asking helbus as he uses a tig more than what i would
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matt
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 05:09 PM |
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all i have ever done is disconnect the battery, never had any dramas
matt
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greedy53
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 05:50 PM |
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i have been welding parts on or to cars and trucks for years and always disconect the battery terminals costs nothing and stoppes the loop feed back
that can happen
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pod
A.k.a.: paul mrvw061
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 07:06 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by matt
all i have ever done is disconnect the battery, never had any dramas
matt
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me too and i welded my sons commodore the other day and its still going strong
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barls
A.k.a.: Mr indestructible
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 07:09 PM |
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the difference is the polarity of the equipment used
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 07:35 PM |
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I'm no welder,
but everyone I know unhooks the earth lead on the battery..
can't remember what the muffler guy used to do..??
I don't think He undid anything...
as I would have lost the memory in the radio??
maybe the radio had no memory... lol back then...??
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on May 21st, 2010 at 07:38 PM |
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what used to happen Chris
is that the easiest path was thru the exhaust system and
thru the alternator....
YIKES....
years ago, the earth system on cars was very poor...
with a lot of resistance...
then alternators started to appear on cars...
and then go POOF.... when the welded arced.... lol
cheers
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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General_Failure
A.k.a.: Tristan
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| posted on May 25th, 2010 at 01:09 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by pod
| Quote: | Originally
posted by matt
all i have ever done is disconnect the battery, never had any dramas
matt
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me too and i welded my sons commodore the other day and its still going strong
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Welded the doors shut and told him to get a VW, right?
What is the story with unplugging the alternator?
What would I have to unplug from it? This is on a typeIV bay.
I've only ever removed the battery but don't want to kill the alt.
I have some fairly major MIG work coming up on it to fix gouges, cracks and cancer.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
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helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on May 25th, 2010 at 09:41 PM |
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I have been a panel beater for 20 years now, and I have never disconnected a battery or ECU unless it has had to be removed due to location being in
the way of repairs. I have used MIG, TIG and spot welder all those years and NEVER once blown a fuse, alternator, ECU or anything. I had heaps of
drama's getting radio codes and anti-theft devices rebooted from disconnecting batteries.
I have set fire to three cars if that is information you need to know that I am not just lucky.
When welding, I always earth the welder near the welded area, and never on another part of the car. The worst place to earth on is the exhaust pipe,
unless you are welding the exhaust, and then it is the right place to earth.
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