Welding aluminium??

Hi all, new to this forum. I work as a welder, and i have been welding for the past 10 years. I have never had any complications when welding but i wonder if it is more dangerous to weld with an alternative current (AC) as used when TIG welding aluminium than with a direct current (DC) as used when MIG welding or TIG welding normal steel and stainless and so on. Any body got any answers for me??

Cheers and all the best /// Kris.

6 Comments

Pacemaker Dependent?

by bobad - 2009-03-09 10:03:59


Hi Kris,

I dabble in welding myself, just to make a few repairs.

If you're pacemaker dependent, I don't think I would be welding at all. If not, just keep the leads as far from your PM as possible, and try not to "stutter" the rods.

Tig is a different animal, uses high frequency. I can see where it could interfere with a PM worse than DC, amperage being equal. To be honest, I don't know. Hope someone will chime in.

Welding

by ElectricFrank - 2009-03-09 11:03:56

I just did a search on TIG welding equipment. I was hoping to find equipment specs that show the frequency range, but it is only loosely mentioned. Apparently, the early TIG welders used 60Hz square waves. The newer equipment uses an inverter to generate the current and can be varied. I'm guessing though that the frequency is fairly low.

Someone sent me some info on Medtronic pacemakers that a field strength of less than 100Amp/meter for frequencies up to 10KHz won't affect the pacer. That doesn't sound very encouraging at welding currents.

On the good side you have been welding for quite a while without ill effects. If you decided to try it I would suggest you have someone with you at least for the first few trials. I doubt you will damage the pacer, but if you passed out with an active welder in your hand it wouldn't be good.

If possible try to keep the welding leads close together. The currents tend to cancel each other

frank

Pacemaker dependent?

by Fisken - 2009-03-10 07:03:55

Well it depends on what you meen with dependent, I do need it to survive but i dont need it for every heartbeat if that´s what you mean. What do you meen by "stutterng"?? I aked my PM doktor about this too, but he couldnt give me a clear answer. He said that if he was in my shoes he would give it a try because the PM would not take permanent damage. Is AC current more dangerous than DC current generally??

Cheers and thanks for a great forum!

Kris.

Welding

by donb - 2009-03-10 10:03:07

Thought I'd add a bit of info on welding. Like all of the other do's & don'ts, down the road the rules loosen up. Seventeen years ago a top Medtronic engineer told me that I could AC arcweld with precautions. Namely twist both welding together forming a (gimmick). This would help neutralize magnetic fields. Don't exceed 125 amps and by all means keep the ground cable clamped close to the weld. Well, after all the years I didn't have the courage to try it. Last year I needed work on my 5th wheel trailer and welded up suspension with no effects.
About a month ago I checked with St Jude engineering about HF tig welding as I just got my new right side installation. Heliarc, Tig, Mig have always been no-no's.
Now I'm told basically the same as years ago with regular AC welding but I could do the above as long as I stay away from the welder with longer leads, don't exceed 400 amps (WOW), keep work piece a comfortable reasonable distance from implant. Of course climbing, ladders & dangerous enviroment while welding are out.
I would like to have anyone else with questions contact their PM manufacturer engineering and see what their opinions are!!! AND keep posting
Don

Add to Welding Thread

by jjinatx - 2010-08-09 11:08:06

Hello,

Just joined. Got my pacemaker about a month ago. In my hobby as an artist-blacksmith, before I got the PM I've done quite a bit of MIG welding and have been hankering fora TIG welder. At my 2 week checkup I asked my cardio about chainsaws (something else I use a LOT) and welding. He said no problem with the chainsaw and hadn't heard of any issues with welding. He said my PM (BIOTRONIK) would not go crazy or be damaged but that if it senses a strong mag field it would just go into a self pacing mode instead of relying on any sensing any signal from the heart. I haven't tried welding yet, but as soon as my home monitoring gizmo gets here I'll haul it out to the shop and run some beads (MIG). If anything goes haywire it will phone in and let BIOTRONIK and doc know.

Also, I found this in the Miller Syncrowave 250 TIG manual:

"1-5. EMF Information
Considerations About Welding And The Effects Of Low Frequency
Electric And Magnetic Fields
Welding current, as it flows through welding cables, will cause electromagnetic fields. There has been and still is some concern about such fields. However, after examining more than 500 studies spanning 17
years of research, a special blue ribbon committee of the National Research Council concluded that: “The body of evidence, in the committee’ s judgment, has not demonstrated that exposure to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields is a human-health hazard.”

However, studies are still going forth and evidence continues to be examined. Until the final conclusions of the research are reached, you may wish to minimize your exposure to electromagnetic fields when welding or cutting.

To reduce magnetic fields in the workplace, use the following procedures:
1. Keep cables close together by twisting or taping them.
2. Arrange cables to one side and away from the operator.
3. Do not coil or drape cables around your body.
4. Keep welding power source and cables as far away from operator as practical.
5. Connect work clamp to workpiece as close to the weld as possible.

About Pacemakers:
Pacemaker wearers consult your doctor first. If cleared by your doctor, then following the above procedures is recommended."

-jj

Tig Shielding Braid Grounded Both Ends

by llagrone - 2015-07-03 12:07:11

I am checking into this and I was considering a braided grounded shield around the cables for protection. Comments or concerns?

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