Welding
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,715
Likes: 1
so then, there must be something insanely coincidental about people frying electronic modules when welding with the batteries connected? a simple google search on this topic yields several sites, and forum posts on this topic.....ill let you do the research 
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
Damn, that must be why automotive shops and a few of the welders on here don't bother to disconnect the battery when they weld.
A basic understanding of electricity will give you the answer.
Voltage takes the easiest path. Period. Current has nothing to do with it.
The only real way to protect an electronic device is to disconnect it. The battery being disconnected is just common practice in automotive repair for any vehicle. Because the voltage, if its going to damage any electronics, does not need the batteries help.
I do not understand why people "fry" things while welding, but it shouldn't happen, unless they are doing something wrong. Or one of the formentioned reasons I gave before.
TJBeggs saying he doesn't do it is enough for me. They taught him welding at school, and obviously it's not that big of a deal.
A basic understanding of electricity will give you the answer.
Voltage takes the easiest path. Period. Current has nothing to do with it.
The only real way to protect an electronic device is to disconnect it. The battery being disconnected is just common practice in automotive repair for any vehicle. Because the voltage, if its going to damage any electronics, does not need the batteries help.
I do not understand why people "fry" things while welding, but it shouldn't happen, unless they are doing something wrong. Or one of the formentioned reasons I gave before.
TJBeggs saying he doesn't do it is enough for me. They taught him welding at school, and obviously it's not that big of a deal.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
i'mnot saying it cant happen, but odds are that if it fries it with the ground on then it will do it with the ground off, just because you remove the ground wire doesnt mean you are safe. the welder can travel right back up the positive cable and fry it too. electricity doesnt care...like i said. it can go through any wire in the whole system to feed into the pcm, the only way to be sure is pull the pcm out of the car. and even then tossing the pcm in the bed of the truck could still fry it based on the exact problem you stated about the shop radio, if its anywhere near the welder it could get fried. so if you want to be 100% safe then remove the computers from your vehicle, walk them to your neigbors house and have him watch them while you work on the truck. oh, and dont forget to tell him to keep the pcm away from his microwave.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
not a competition.... just dont like getting told i dont know what i'm talking about. he is also correct in his statements abotu the welder and current travel but simply disconnecting the cables fro the battery will not protect your computer. its all about the frequency of the electricity when it gets to your computer, whether its traveling through the wire or bombarded through air waves. i deal with this every single day. its part of my job. one of the places i work is an EMI chamber (electromagnetic interference) so to tell me that i dont know what radiation and frequency waves can do to electronics makes me laugh. You have no idea.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,715
Likes: 1
the ASE wants you to disconnect the battery (or remove) components, miller and hobart both say to disconnect the ground, freightliner, ford, mitsubishi, mercedes, VW, and suzuki service manuals (those are the only ones i have) all say to disconnect the battery, some even said to disconnect the alternator, suzuki also tells you to disconnect electronic components, read the warnings from eastwood Eastwood Co. - Eastwood Spot Weld Gun Instructions.......im sure there are a million people who never disconnect and nothing happens. i have never heard of anything bad coming from disconnecting the battery while welding on your vehicle. i have seen first hand what COULD happen if you dont.
scatgo- im tired of this "ford vs. chevy" type of debate, it will go on forever, so i leave this thread with my recomendation that you at least disconnect the batteries when welding.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
as i said before, and i'll say for the last time, you want to be 100% sure you wont fry anything then you must remove the electronics from the truck.
and by the way, nice article, while it is VERY baisc, it will give alot of readers a crash course in the difference between volts and amps and how it affects their trucks.
and by the way, nice article, while it is VERY baisc, it will give alot of readers a crash course in the difference between volts and amps and how it affects their trucks.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
Apparently I'm an idiot because I did not get more technical then "electricity takes the easiest path possible"
Which is the most basic concept in electricity.
Hmm.
Which is the most basic concept in electricity.
Hmm.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
yes, that is the most basic concept but its not always a physical electrical connection with amp flow that will fry electronic equipment. i can make wiper motors run and horns blow just by pointing an antenna at vehicles depending on how i adjust the frequency being transmitted..... no physicaly connection, but i can control electronic equipment
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