ShopTalk Forums | Aircooled VW Tech & Restoration Help

Polarity? Is your "ground" cable hooked up to the positive on your welder? Unless you need to run in reverse because of your material, hook the torch to the positive instead.
Are you running in AC or DC mode? I have never used AC before, but I would imagine that getting shocked from the table/work would be likely. If it is an AC issue, I am uncertain how to solve it other than: Don't touch the work/table! Grounding the table would zap some of the power from the reverse part of the cycle, but it should only be for cleaning AFAIK and is probably better than getting zapped. I would either:
1) get a plug (either a replacement plug or one clipped from an appliance with the power wires capped), wire the ground to the table, and plug it in
2) run a wire from the table to some metal on an outlet (the cover screw is an old school method)

here is a short and informative little blurb from the mfr about arc welding and grounding
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/su ... etail.aspx

Back when I was a cold-warrior playing cat-and-mouse games with Russian subs, occasionally it was necessary to work on live electrical/electronic equipment due to operational considerations. The CO had to authorize it because it was in violation of standard USN procedure. To ensure that "getting bit" wouldn't be fatal, I'd wear wrist straps with cables leading to ground, to keep any current from passing through my chest. There was also an observer holding a belt tied 'round my waist who could yank me free if I got zapped and my hand clenched.

If I could be assured that everything within the swing of a dead cat around my work space was NOT grounded (including the table and me) and had a double-insulated welder, that'd be one thing...but it's not a perfect world, so IMO you're better off grounding the hell out of everything, including your wrists - and if at all possible have someone else in the room who knows where the supply breaker is.

yeap. and a good circuit to ground actually makes the breaker MORE likely to trip, cutting power, and puts LESS of the power thru YOU and more thru the things meant to carry the juice. no guarentees but it can be the difference between dead as a doornail and "you shouldn't be alive but hey" situation. As for working on live stuff, we have a how to manual at work that explains how we can work on 40kv-120kv systems while on if needed, the idea being if the work is at 80kv, and you keep yourself at 80kv, you'll be fine! But I'll keep my feet on the grounded ground thank you very much.

fusername wrote:...we have a how to manual at work that explains how we can work on 40kv-120kv systems while on if needed, the idea being if the work is at 80kv, and you keep yourself at 80kv, you'll be fine!..

That's how these guys stay alive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgrN0fyDRsQ