Dead auto darkening helmet

[Car Doc]

My helmet quit last week at a time when I had to weld something right then so I bought a new one from Snap-On he showed up about the same time.

Then later I fiddled around with the Miller and apparently the battery connections are touchy (odd ball battery anyway) because a slight tweak and its working again heck I don't know what to say except there may still be hope for yours?

 

[lhfarm]

My helmet quit last week at a time when I had to weld something right then so I bought a new one from Snap-On he showed up about the same time.

Then later I fiddled around with the Miller and apparently the battery connections are touchy (odd ball battery anyway) because a slight tweak and its working again heck I don't know what to say except there may still be hope for yours?

Apparently the connections are touchy and not a great design. But I wired the battery to the terminals, checking to make sure I had 3v present. Nothing. So I'm assuming there is another failure. Guess I'll buy another and NOT store it in a bag, to make sure it is charged.

Going to do some searching here for suggestions.

Thanks,

 

[Treemonkey1000]

If you weren't so far away I would say that I could take a look at it for you. There might be some other electronic geeks in your area that can look at that.

 

[lhfarm]

Well, I decided to take the helmet apart and see if I could find
another battery. I removed the headband and the inside and outside
shields. On a lark, I placed the battery in the slot while I was
holding the mask away from the workbench. I saw the mask go dark
twice. So I replaced the battery cover and held the on button and it
darkened. Took it outside and it is working again.

No idea what I did or if it was a random act. But it is good I tried again.

I follow-up to see if it keeps working. I did report the results to Miller. They haven't responded to my last few notes

 

[texasjohn]

Ah, yes, the old "I messed with it a lot, didn't really do anything and it started to work" trick.

Thanks for letting me know this happens to someone besides myself....glad it now is working again.

 

[lhfarm]

Ah, yes, the old "I messed with it a lot, didn't really do anything and it started to work" trick.

Thanks for letting me know this happens to someone besides myself....glad it now is working again.

I hate it when that happens. I'm glad to have the helmet back, but I'd like to know what I did to fix it. First I want to know so I don't waste a lot of time when it happens again. Second, I wanted to post the fix here to share with others. That is one of the things I really like about TBN.

Looking back through this thread, it may be if the recommended cleaning and bending the contacts doesn't work, then the "mess with it" is the fix.

 

[texasjohn]

Hmm... maybe we should have a sticky thread..."I messed with it just before trashing it and..."

Last time this happened to me, I was convinced that the drill switch was fried, thus the drill dead and decided to salvage the cord. Discovered a pinch in the cord right at entry to the drill which caused wire to melt. Barely could see discoloration in black insulation. Cut out 3 inches of cord and all is properly screwy again:laughing:

 

[weldingisfun]

Go back through the disassembly steps you took. Analyze each step in your mind and you will probably find that something was causing a contact to be maladjusted or a broken lead to make contact somewhere in that process and when you took things apart the contacts were re-established. Then again, maybe not.
Regardless, you need to have your shop sprayed for Gremlins.
Happy to hear you are up and running again. Have the same helmet myself.

 

[Car Doc]

Well, I decided to take the helmet apart and see if I could find
another battery. I removed the headband and the inside and outside
shields. On a lark, I placed the battery in the slot while I was
holding the mask away from the workbench. I saw the mask go dark
twice. So I replaced the battery cover and held the on button and it
darkened. Took it outside and it is working again.

No idea what I did or if it was a random act. But it is good I tried again.

I follow-up to see if it keeps working. I did report the results to Miller. They haven't responded to my last few notes

There ya go just like I said I did the other day strange how that happens isnt it!?

Glad yours is working and mine too except I now own a real expensive new helmet also toys toys toys never enough....:laughing:

 

[Steve_Miller]

It doesn't take very much corrosion or dirt to cause a malfunction with these low power circuits. The current draw is so minute that very little resistance (aka - dirt, corrosion) will essentailly open the battery circuit and make it appear that the electronics are no good. Mine has acted up a few times as well.

Steve

 

[yomax4]

Guys, The Miller hoods are made in Korea. They have the good the bad and the ugly whenever you buy imported electronics. Most times all will be well but a few still give you fits. So many people make Auto Darkenings Hoods these days it's difficult to know what to buy. Top of the Line Hornell Speed Glass now owned by 3M. Then Jackson, Tweco or Miller. Harbor Freight and Arc One round out the Low end. The thing of it is, They all will perform. It's just the 1 here and there that dies early.. As long as they are UL Listed, Buy the least expensive and or largest viewing window out there in your price range. If you feel the need to spend $200 or more, Buy Speed Glass..Nothing else compares. Yes I am kind of an authority on this, I have been a regional sales Rep for 4 brands of Auto Hoods. Some Brands should come with a white cane for later in life..:laughing:

 

[Gary Fowler]

I just tossed a SpeedGlass in the trash that had been in storage for several years. The batteries had leaked in it before I put it in storage. I thought I had cleaned up all the alkalai but some was still in the case. It destroyed the lens in one corner. Now I am using my el cheapo, Chicago Electric but it seems to work fine. I couldnt believe all the different sized clear lens that hoods use today. It seems everyone uses a specialize size. What ever happened to the 2x4 and 4 x4 lens sizes!!!

 

[lhfarm]

Guys, The Miller hoods are made in Korea. They have the good the bad and the ugly whenever you buy imported electronics. Most times all will be well but a few still give you fits. So many people make Auto Darkenings Hoods these days it's difficult to know what to buy. Top of the Line Hornell Speed Glass now owned by 3M. Then Jackson, Tweco or Miller. Harbor Freight and Arc One round out the Low end. The thing of it is, They all will perform. It's just the 1 here and there that dies early.. As long as they are UL Listed, Buy the least expensive and or largest viewing window out there in your price range. If you feel the need to spend $200 or more, Buy Speed Glass..Nothing else compares. Yes I am kind of an authority on this, I have been a regional sales Rep for 4 brands of Auto Hoods. Some Brands should come with a white cane for later in life..:laughing:

I checked the hood just before I got your note and it isn't working again. Guess I got the "1" that dies early. Need to decide what to spend on a new one. I think with my limited use, I'll go the HF route.