Welding on equipment

[VroomVroom]

I have been making rear rack extension on my atv to mount a pan or box. I had to fit the bracket/support on the rear bumper and against the pan and tack weld. I didn’t want to do it as I know the trouble I could get into with frying electronics. So I disconnected battery. OnCe tacked I removed and welded on the floor. Afterwards I hooked the battery back up and started the bike, no issue. But it begs the question. Is it possible to still do harm even if the battery in the equipment is disconnected?

 

[BravoXray]

Oh, you're not going to be ready for the flood of differing opinions this is going to elicit.

That being said, as long as there is no path for the current, which chooses the path of least resistance, through any of the electronics on the vehicle, no harm can come to it. Disconnecting the battery is an old wives' tale. But if you are welding, cutting or grinding in close proximity to a wet cell type lead-acid battery, pull it out so the hydrogen and oxygen they produce won't ignite and blow it up. Not necessary if it's a sealed battery.

 

[WranglerX]

Oh, you're not going to be ready for the flood of differing opinions this is going to elicit.

That being said, as long as there is no path for the current, which chooses the path of least resistance, through any of the electronics on the vehicle, no harm can come to it. Disconnecting the battery is an old wives' tale. But if you are welding, cutting or grinding in close proximity to a wet cell type lead-acid battery, pull it out so the hydrogen and oxygen they produce won't ignite and blow it up. Not necessary if it's a sealed battery.

Ditto....

 

[VroomVroom]

Yeah it’s done now. I clamped ground about two inches from where I was tacking the metal. On the back end of the can am max xt models there’s an aluminum hand hold located between the ball receiver and the back bumper. I made a support that will clamp on that, and on an angle, go upwards to support the large aluminum pan that’s extending out over the rear bumper/rack. But to ensure it would be the propert height to support the pan, I had to attach bracket and tack weld the cross bar that supports the pan. Anyway, it’s done. Honestly, I probably won’t do it again. Not on something like that. Not worth it

 

[mikester]

Anything with a ground loop can be a potential problem. Keep your weld ground as close as possible to the weld zone.

 

[Diggin It]

I have been making rear rack extension on my atv to mount a pan or box. Afterwards I hooked the battery back up and started the bike, no issue.

Not sure what type of machine you're working on.

Generally the body computers (main brains) on most machines have some kind of connector that can be unplugged. Or maybe pull all the fuses.

 

[VroomVroom]

Can am max xt 650

 

[CoyPatton]

Battery risk is at others pointed out, over exciting the charging process and frying the battery. Remove both battery cables while welding and battery risk are eliminated.
Unfortunately, the above will not protect the onboard electronics. Depending on the vehicle some sensors could have grounds separate from the computer and these may get overloaded unless disconnected individually. Most sensors however get their grounds, signals and power through the on board computer. Disconnecting all computer plugs should isolate both the computer and sensors which get both grounds and voltage from the computer.
Some times unfortunately there is just no way to avoid some tacking on the vehicle in order to ensure proper fitment. However if at all possible, for final welding remove all parts and reinstall after cooling. But take precautions to avoid heat warping.

 

[brown91]

Oh, you're not going to be ready for the flood of differing opinions this is going to elicit.

That being said, as long as there is no path for the current, which chooses the path of least resistance, through any of the electronics on the vehicle, no harm can come to it. Disconnecting the battery is an old wives' tale. But if you are welding, cutting or grinding in close proximity to a wet cell type lead-acid battery, pull it out so the hydrogen and oxygen they produce won't ignite and blow it up. Not necessary if it's a sealed battery.

I'm not trying to be a smart aleck here, and this is definitely off topic, but I think this is worth pointing out. I'm not an electrical expert, but the way I understand it, electricity takes ALL the paths, not just the one of least resistance. Although, the path with the least resistance would carry more amps than any other path with more resistance. I only wanted to point his out because I thought the same thing for most of life, but I learned differently in book I read about electricity some time ago.

 

[VroomVroom]

Yeah. I had the bike running today for an hour. But I’ll probably never di again. Glad it seems ok. Just too many variables and those bikes are not easy to wimork I’m on. For example you literally have to remove gauge cluster to change the oil filter by your foot. I’m not kidding.