disconnect the battery.....

[pipefitter]

I have a small weld, (mig), to make on my BX-23. Whenever I weld on a car with a computer, I disconnect the negative battery cable. Is this necessary on a 2003 tractor? I planned to unhook it, but wondered if was really necessary?

 

[kensnelling]

Doesn't take but a minute to pull it, better safe than sorry.

Ken

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have welded on all kinds of tractors, backhoes and automobiles and never unhooked a battery and never had a problem. Keep the ground properly connected and hooked close to where you are welding and you wont have a problem as long as you dont directly arc a wire on the tractor.

 

[MIKE R]

Doesn't take but a minute to pull it, better safe than sorry.

Depending on the equiptment and how close I can ground it I ussualy disconect the battery.

 

[DarkBlack]

I've never disconected either the + or - when welding. Pulling the ground off the battery won't do anything to isolate your electronics from the welder currents.

 

[flusher]

The frame of the tractor is the return path for your electrical system. The battery negative is only one of several parts of your electrical system that's attached to the frame. So disconnecting the battery negative, while it probably gives you peace of mind, does not eliminate the other "sneak" paths into the electrical system. And the arc itself generates electromagnetic interference that can couple into the electronics and sometimes cause problems in tractors with fancy computerized setups. The best advice is to attach the return lead from the welder to a position as close as possible to the site of the weld.

Good luck.

 

[ray66v]

This comes up from time to time here, and like many things, it usually ends in disagreement.

I worked in a body shop full of vehicles and technicians, all my life. Thousands of vehicles repaired, including many I owned. I have never seen any problems resulting from welding on vehicles with the battery connected.

Others will cite evidence they had issues.

It's your call.

 

[CBW1999]

Keep your welding ground as close to where you are working as possible. Be aware of the location of electronic components and try to avoid grounding near them.

-follows the path of least resistance

 

[yomax4]

I've always just used a double ground. 1 on each side of the weld. Sounds like it's not needed.

 

[Mace Canute]

follows the path of least resistance

I wish people would quit repeating this erroneous statement. Electricity in a circuit flows in all paths available and the current that flows in each path is dependent upon the individual resistances.

 

[CBW1999]

I wish people would quit repeating this erroneous statement. Electricity in a circuit flows in all paths available and the current that flows in each path is dependent upon the individual resistances.

That is a great explanation Mace. Never really thought like that- yes, just repeating what I was "taught" :ashamed:
It makes perfect sense....quite honestly also explains the times I have gotten "bit"

Thank you!

 

[Depmandog]

This doesn't exactly apply, but I used to have a 10kW military generator. It was a two battery positive ground system. We put it on a trailer to haul to job sites.

After a couple of ruined alternators and a bad battery - I figured out that the two battery / charging systems were fighting each other as soon as the trailer was hooked up.

I ended up installing a throw switch on the positive ground cable. Problem solved.

So - should you disconnect the battery of a vehicle you are welding on? Personally I think it would be the smart thing to do. It might not immediately toast a battery, but it might decrease its capacity by a few points.

 

[pipefitter]

Thanks all. I'll unhook it just to be safe.

 

[cowski]

i have welded on trucks, tractors equipment hooked on tractors sometimes with them running and have not had a problem.

 

[k0ua]

I wish people would quit repeating this erroneous statement. Electricity in a circuit flows in all paths available and the current that flows in each path is dependent upon the individual resistances.

You beat me to it.

 

[Soundguy]

i've welded on auto's and tractors with alts and even EI.. I have rarely ever removed a wire or battery / cable.

keep the ground clamp as near the work as you can..

if you are welding RIGHT next to an electronics device.. go ahead and pull it if you can...

 

[Soundguy]

So - should you disconnect the battery of a vehicle you are welding on? Personally I think it would be the smart thing to do. It might not immediately toast a battery, but it might decrease its capacity by a few points.

if you hookup your weld leads correctly.. you should not effect the bat at all.. unless you thermally damage it from welding too close to it...

electronic principles are very easy to learn.. plenty of resources on the web or in a library to learn about this.

e=IR means something....

 

[Depmandog]

if you hookup your weld leads correctly.. you should not effect the bat at all.. unless you thermally damage it from welding too close to it...

Ha ha. "If you hook up your leads correctly..."

There's this little thing called senility...... sometimes referred in the moment as "had a brain fart".....or the "what were you thinking"; usually followed by a Homer Simpson exclamation of "DOH!!" after realizing what you have done.

Signed: Prospective AARP Member

 

[DarkBlack]

Come to think of it, In the very unlikely event that things were done wrong to allow the welder to possibly cause issues with either the expensive electronics, or the battery, I can think of some situations where the electronics would actually be more protected by leaving the battery connected.

 

[Soundguy]

give the choice.. i'd disconnect hot before ground....