wierd problem with my rig

Date 10-25-2012 00:43

I am on an SS job tig welding a lot of 24". This has happened to me three times so far. When I am rigged up for DCEN/Straight polarity everything goes as it should. When I roll up for the day my truck will have no overdrive. I have to disconnect the battery and reset the computer and then I get my overdrive back. How weird is that??? I have also noticed it only happens when I am tig welding thicker/higher amperage stuff 125-150 amps and up. My machine has no switch for polarity...I simply hook the tig torch up to my ground lead and ground my hot lead...I am using ECO reels and my ohm meter verifies they are insulated from the truck bed. I think a charge is building up in the insulator and somehow glitching out the computer in my truck...91 GMC 350 1 ton. I have no issues when running normally on reverse polarity. BTW when your going to be tig welding all day...you will burn a lot more fuel :cry:

By Chris2626 (***)

Date 10-25-2012 01:32

Thats weird.

By texwelder (***)

Date 10-25-2012 11:16

This reminds me of something, back years ago when pagers were common before cell phones were I was using a plasma cutter and every time I would hit the pager with the lead of the plasma cutter it would go nuts after about a dozen times of this over a month or so it quit working period so I took it in they said the board out of my pager look like it ha d been put in a microwave, crazy just by the of the plasma cutter lead gently making contact with it

By J Hall

Date 10-25-2012 23:07

My old Motorola razr phone used to vibrate in my pocket when i'd start the high freq

By Cactusthewelder (*****)

Date 10-25-2012 12:27

Tommy,
Order a Battery Isolater/Surge protector from Snap-On. I bought mine from the Local Truck Accessory Shop. That will cure the problem. I sold my Truck and Still have it. If you are interested in it, give me a call

By Superflux (****)

Date 10-25-2012 16:07

Tommy,
Appreciate the tip from Cactus. I remember strange things like that many years ago when I was rigged out on a '91 GMC 3500.
Sometimes setting an independent ground wire from the Welding machine chasis driven into the earth seemed to help. Then, it was always set on the shotgun side of the rig and then you (ME! dingy) forget to pull it when spooling up.
Since you found a cure, I was gonna suggest installing Tweeco lead connectors on your battery cables :grin:

, but sounds like Cactus has the preventative "right tool".

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 10-26-2012 02:50

NO high freq involved....DC all scratch start.

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 10-26-2012 06:49

The device Cactus is suggesting acts like a zener diode [but is a modern solid state device], in that is doesn't conduct unless the voltage excedes a set point, probably about 15 volts in this case. Above the threshhold voltage it conducts to ground [negative on a vehicle] and bledes of the voltage spike. This works like a surge protector in Your home circuits, but at vehicle voltage.

This is worth a try, and has a good chance of solving the problem.

By ssbn727 (*****)

Date 10-26-2012 09:19 Edited 10-26-2012 09:23

Or you could make your very own by going to Radio Shack and get what you need by explaining to them what you want to put together for your truck...
Either way, please let us know how it turns out okay? But shoot, if Cactus is willing to part ways with the one he's got to offer then jump on it son!

Btw, that Zener Diode is also known as a "blocking diode" also FWIW. :lol:

Respectfully,
Henry

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 10-27-2012 02:46

I have not seen near as many electronic components in Radio Shack as they used to have. Perhaps it is only My local store.

I don't think there has ever been anybody at that store who could help design even a simple circuit.

Do they still have loads of components in stock at the one near You Henry ?

By Dualie

Date 10-27-2012 03:14

if you walk into the radio shack around here, you better be looking for a battery or a cell phone otherwise they cant help you one bit.

the last time i went into one the "help" was amazed when i found the drawer of resistors.

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 10-27-2012 03:56

"I don't think there has ever been anybody at that store who could help design even a simple circuit." HAHAHAHAHA maybe way back in the day certainly not now.

By john housel (*)

Date 10-27-2012 14:54

Radio Shack used to be a cool place 25 years or so ago.

By Northweldor (***)

Date 10-30-2012 11:42

Went to a local store, asked for a common 3V lithium battery, had none, referred me to a Battery Shack. Sayonara, Radio Shack!