Tig welder and hi-voltage

[docsteve66]

I think the pacemaker dangers are overated. have no ideas about the defibrilators. I have had pacemaker since 1979. Only time I ever had it trigger from elecromagantic field (excepting when being tested) was when I was standing beside an induction furnace, we had a melted cone of aluminum that looked like the scoop of ice cream you use in a ice cream cone, but it was about two feet across. heat was stricktly from induction coil, the cone squirmed and boiled. lots of power and I was very near. I could feel that one and had to back off. no one else noticed, a very minor thing. Intermedics says don't even ride a lawn mower (in their book that you get with a pace maker). The local rep says there is no documented case where the pace maker has been afffected. I can make it trip by holding a DC welding lead on it and stiking an arc. so i guess you dont want to lay on the cable, nor as mentioned above, wrap it around you.
BTW, never had a heart attack, heart muscle is in good shape.
Steve

[wierdscience]

Ralph hit on a good point,the filler rod!I have tig welded for years and often if the part being welded is extra small I will hold the filler bare handed and have no problems.However if the filler rod should happen to make ground with some other part of the setup you will get popped but nothing fatal.Either way as long as you don't become part of the circut your ok but man 40 volts dc is uncomfortable!

[brunneng]

John-

That reminded me of my high school shop teacher. He used to demonstrate the HF arc from the TIG welder by jumping it to his thumbnail. After being very certain he wasn't grounded through.

I wonder if he could have lit a lightblub like Tesla did while doing that. Pretty much the same thing.

Kevin

[docsteve66]

hold the tip to a flourescent bulb. it should light. you hold the middle of the bulb or even near the end on the glass. I would say all will light but I have not tested all. Good way to win a beer bet where you claim you dont need a return wire.

[Thrud]

Warning: Modern welders often operate up in the 50v range. Care should always be taken when handling a gun/stinger - OSHA has safety guidlines for safe welding and they should be followed. The voltage and current is high enough to kill you and it does kill many people in Canada and the US every year.

Please be carefull - Safety First!

[ibewgypsie]

yeah.. I got a hi freq box to go on my welder from grainger to stop all that scratch starting. I noticed then I was arcing to the work vise. No harm felt. While playing with tesla coils I discovered most times hi-voltage travels on the outside of your skin.. Till I stuck my finger into the purple streamer, it burned a lil black hole in my finger where the arc dried the skin.
#1 concern, just cause it don't kill you this time, (1)you have dry boots, (2)you don't conduct enough, (3)your skin is dry, don't mean conditions won't be enough to drop you like a hammer next time. And, think what bargains the wife will have in a shop sale. Remember according to some sources the vietmiase used 12 volt car batteries to shock prisoners.

[ShavingMaker]

Doc, I can go you one better on the fluorescent tube trickery. Some evening when the static electricity is running rampant through the house and you have some company over, turn out the lights and grab a fluorescent tube. Just walking around on the carpet will cause the tube to flash like lightening in your hand! Just don't start calling yourself "Thor!"
Actually, maybe we should save that nickname for John Stevenson, the "ear lobe lightning man!"