Safety Question

[littlestwoo]

Can I claim there is no i on my keyboard, bugger just used it 3 (no 4) times (now 5)

 

[Alex]

Worst electric shock I had was with a Neon sign transformer, it was pretty bad in comparison to being shocked by the mains. I'm very careful around high voltage sources since that happened as it was VERY unpleasant, also you do get a mild tingle on an arc set if the conditions are right and as someone pointed out its not very pleasant either.

 

[bump]

Worst electric shock I had was with a Neon sign transformer

They truly are beasts, HF arc start on Mercury gearing is pretty evil too.

 

[rtbcomp]

Worst electric shock I had was with a Neon sign transformer,

Mine was with a home made power supply, the mains switch was on the right of a 'U' shaped chassis and an octal plug in the centre provided the output. To push the plug home I curled a forefinger round each end of the chassis, pushing the plug with my thumbs.

The LH finger provided a good earth, the RH finger tightened on the mains lead. I felt a huge thump between my shoulder blades and accused my brother, who was behind me, of punching me It was a while before I realised what happened.

 

[Sphinx]

I'm aware this is a pretty monumental thread bump but it's on a topic I've been thinking about lately. I know several people have said it's nothing to worry about but my question is:

If you're testing the wire tension by holding the wire as it comes out the end of the gun, my understanding is that you wouldn't be completing the curcuit...is that safe?

Also, say the earth clamp is left clamped to the handle of the welder as opposed to dragging on the floor, and you're testing for gas flow etc, would the wire try and arc with any part of the welder? near the wire feed mechanism etc?

Electronics isn't my strong point as you can probably tell.
Give me a spanner though! and I'll happily try and undo a screw with it...oh no wait...

 

[fingers99]

Why would you want to clamp the earth to the welder?

I've yet to shock myself checking wire tension.

In normal, everyday, and not particularly careful use, the MIG is exceptionally safe, electrically.

Now, if you really want to see something that looks dangerous, try and find some film of people doing underwater arc welding, holding the stick with what looks like a thick washing up glove...........

 

[Sphinx]

To keep everything tidy when not in use, the clamp is kept on the handle at the front of the welder out of the way. I'm wondering if this would create a curcuit if it was left on when the machine was switched on.

 

[fingers99]

Well, not unless you pulled the trigger and pointed the torch at the MIG........

 

[Scott Hightower]

MIG is a lot safer than stick as far as shock is concerned. However, I need to state the obvious, no welding in the rain. I new a guy who experienced a little tingle in his back when he was lying down on the wet ground welding. A new use for the word "Grounded".

Scott

 

[backpurge]

Now, if you really want to see something that looks dangerous, try and find some film of people doing underwater arc welding, holding the stick with what looks like a thick washing up glove...........

True, but the power isn't turned on until the welding rod is actually touching the job, used to work at a "Wet Stick" welding training centre, you used to get the old hands winding the new guys up by telling them that if they had any fillings in their teeth they would fuse together if they touched when they were welding, should have sen the look of terror on some of their faces

 

[Welderpaul]

True, but the power isn't turned on until the welding rod is actually touching the job,

It is

Standing/kneeling on a wet staircase today, gloves damp, nice tingle everytime i put a new rod in the holder, before the arc is started. It's a nasty jolt, even at 120ish amps.
Try it at 250 amps...Enough to make you throw the rod holder down at swear at something
Holding parts for someone else to weld, nasty jolt in my arm as soon as he arcs up.

 

[backpurge]

It is

Paul
All I can say is it shouldn't be, the normal procedure when underwater welding is for the welder to get himself in position, touch the electrode against the workpeice and request "make it hot" over his comms link, the guy topside then turns on the welding current, when the rod is either burnt down or the weld completed he requests "make it cold" and the current is turned off.

 

[runnach]

Other wise known as "knife switch" should be DC mode, AC makes for interesting underwater jolts