welding/carpentry

I was just wondering, is anyone with a duel lead PM a full time welder? Also, has anyone who works with industrial equipment, welders, table saws, laths etc... bought a gauss measuring instrument to measure the fields around the machinery? Also Medtronics people told me 10 gauss was as strong a field as I should be around. Is this measurement 10Mg
or 10 Gauss? If you have purchased a meter what kind did you buy and where did you buy it?

6 Comments

Try this

by chip - 2008-10-04 09:10:01

Check this site out: http://www.lessemf.com/gauss.html

I have the A460 and it works well. I have done small welding jobs since my implant but I am not a full time welder.

All of my hand power tools read low enough to use safely.

Be sure to talk to youe EP about welding before you do it. Mine said I'd have to try it and see what happened BUT I AM NOT PACEMAKER DEPENDENT and short jobs are okay.

welding

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-04 09:10:50

Arc welding is never ok, that's all I know! Most small power tools are fine. Ask your medtronic rep if they can come to your workplace. I don't know about Medtronic but St Judes can come do a test at your workplace and let you know what's ok and what's not.

Magnetic strength

by ElectricFrank - 2008-10-06 01:10:39

I did some checking and found that the earths magnetic field is approximately 0.5 gauss or 500Mg. So Medtronic must have meant 10 gausss.

I have used a variety of electrical tools, but battery and line powered with no problem. I have been around large transformers and generators as well. At one point I toured a large hydroelectric facility.

Of the ones you listed the only one I would be concerned about is the arc welder. The current level is high and the current path is open unlike motors where it is contained. The other problem is that every job is different as far as ground return path. Also, it wouldn't be good to become light headed or pass out with a hot stick in your hand.

frank

Info I have...

by turboz24 - 2008-10-06 10:10:35

From what info I have, as long as you keep your ICD/PM 12-24" away from the welding tip or cable, you should be fine. My EP has several patients who have PM's and still weld.

For me, I'd have to replicate a 220 bpm pulse with the EM field from the welder, which I doubt I could do. Also, unless you are a really good welder you arn't going to do a continous weld all that long. I usually ran one for no more than say 20 seconds, so....

Welder/Carpenter z06

by zo6 - 2008-10-06 12:10:51

Thanks for all the feedback. This is all new to me ,I have only had this PM for three weeks now. I forgot to say, I only intend to do mig welding now that I am wired. I still want to do some checking before I lite up my welder. Again thank you to everyone for your feedback.

Welder/Carpenter z06

by zo6 - 2008-10-16 02:10:36

Thanks again for all the feedback ! zo6

You know you're wired when...

Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.

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