Engine Driven Gen/Welder Question ?

Date 08-04-2007 01:37

The other day i bought a Hobart Champion 10K gen/welder. i have read the owners manual and it states that if i am using the generator for aux power to the house that i must use a ground rod to the ground lug. were not talking the welding lugs. now i understand that is when generating AC Current to run into a home. my question since i have this welder mounted on my flatbed truck, and it has rubber tires, is there any advantage to use a grounding rod to earth while welding ? one part of me thinks i should because all shop welders are grounded, so why wouldn't a portable have the same requirement ?
if i did ground it, will i see or notice any difference, compared to not grounding the truck/welder to earth. now like i said i am not speaking of the - & + lugs for the leads, but a grounding lug on this welder.

Greatly appreicate your comments
Mike

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 08-04-2007 03:23

The idea behind grounded equiptment is that in case of an internal short, the chasis / housing of the equiptment will not be a shock hazard, as the voltage will be bled off by the ground wire. When hooked up to the permanantly installed electrical pannelthe welder will be grounded by the green wire, but there is the posibility of still having the machine case electrically hot [somewhat] if there is an internal short due to voltage drop in the lines conecting it to the pannel. If working with extension cords rather than to Your electrical pannel, there will be NO CONNECTION TO GROUND if You don't use a ground rod or equivilent. This is a whole can of worms I am not opening tonight.

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 08-04-2007 08:43

LOL DAVE!!!!!

Mike ummm it will not give you any advantage in welding to ground the chassis of your portable welder to earth......you do that when its connected to your house simply to help avoid a catastrophe if there is an issue with your generator. Shop welders are chassis grounded to earth to meet electrical code requirements and to keep a shorted welder from killing you when you lay your hand on the chassis .... it gives them no advantage per-se in performance.

Regards
Tommy

By Sourdough (****)

Date 08-04-2007 14:35

You guys are neato........!