Inverters and Auto Dark

[Swift]

I'm thinking about getting an auto darkening helmet and would like a litle information. Are there any special requirements for the helmet to work with an inverter based TIG like my Dynasty 200DX? The reason I ask is because a well respected brand (Speed Glass) has a model that they say is made for the inverters. Is it worth the extra greenbacks? What's the story?

ROCK.... you can answer this one if Andy is too busy!

Thanks for any replies.

Chris

[ascwldr24]

I have a Hornell Speedglas 9000x that i have had for 2 years now the only thing i have replaced is the protective lens covers. It works great for tig even at low amperages you can adjust the sensitivity it is variable from 9-13 I have had no problems and would recomend it to any one unless you are just begining you should not rely on an auto helmet you should learn with a " plain jane" helmet

[ROCK]

HI SWIFT........... I DID A MSN SEARCH AND LOOKED AT THE FOLLOWING AUTO DARKENING HELMETS.........MORSAFE. HORNELL,JACKSON,SPEEDGLASS,XELUR, ASTRO, HOODLUM, AND OTHERS......SPEEDGLASS..... UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING IN READING THE BRIEF'S... I FOUND NO REFERENCE TO INVERTER WELDERS........................... I HAVE USED JACKSON. QTM, OPTREL, MILLER/HOBART AUTO DARKEING HOODS........ AND A VARIETY OF OTHERS....... ALL SEEM ADEQUATE.......... MY JACKSON HAS A SHADE FOR OXYGEN/ACCETYLENE CUTTING, PLASMA CUTTING, AND A GRINDING SHADE...............IT IS THE JACKSON EXECUTIVE.....I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE IT OFFERED A MULTITUDE OF SHADES FOR DIFFERENT OPERTIONS.... BUT I WILL ADMIT IT LOOKS FUNNY TO BE STANDING AT A GRINDING WHEEL USEING A WELDING HELMET........... ....... BE SAFE......ROCK..
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[cope]

Originally posted by ROCK
HI SWIFT........... I DID A MSN SEARCH AND LOOKED AT THE FOLLOWING AUTO DARKENING HELMETS.........MORSAFE. HORNELL,JACKSON,SPEEDGLASS,XELUR, ASTRO, HOODLUM, AND OTHERS......SPEEDGLASS..... UNLESS I MISSED SOMETHING IN READING THE BRIEF'S... I FOUND NO REFERENCE TO INVERTER WELDERS........................... I HAVE USED JACKSON. QTM, OPTREL, MILLER/HOBART AUTO DARKEING HOODS........ AND A VARIETY OF OTHERS....... ALL SEEM ADEQUATE.......... MY JACKSON HAS A SHADE FOR OXYGEN/ACCETYLENE CUTTING, PLASMA CUTTING, AND A GRINDING SHADE...............IT IS THE JACKSON EXECUTIVE.....I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE IT OFFERED A MULTITUDE OF SHADES FOR DIFFERENT OPERTIONS.... BUT I WILL ADMIT IT LOOKS FUNNY TO BE STANDING AT A GRINDING WHEEL USEING A WELDING HELMET........... ....... BE SAFE......ROCK..
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Rock, it may look funny, but its safer than just safety glasses. Bet you thought I was going to say you looked funny standing anywhere.

[Swift]

Here is an add for one of Speed Glass' models:

Variable Shade 9000XI

X-tra large viewing area and five dark shades especially for the latest TIG welding technology. Features the standard 9000X optics and large viewing area with solar panel, and helmet automatically switches to high sensitivity mode when welder strikes arc. This means that the lens senses the steady/flat frequency of new TIG inverter machines. Sensors return to normal sensitivity mode when the lens changes back to the shade 3 light stage.

[ROCK]

HI SWIFT......... I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHIONG LIKE THAT IN MY SEARCH. WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT INFO AT...........?..... IF I'M BEHIND THE TIMES I GUESS I NEED TO CATCH UP........ LET ME KNOW THANKS..ROCK .......[email protected]

[ROCK]

COPE........... YOUR RIGHT I LOOK FUNNY STANDING ANYWHERE.... .. BUT MOST AREN'T TO OFFENDED.........HAHAHA....... ... SEE YA..... ROCK........ .. [email protected]

[imported_tinman]

i have a hobart auto dark helm and will never buy another auto helm mine stopped working when i was flux-core welding at 450amp so from now on ill stick with a good ol jackson just something for you to consider

[ROCK]

GOODMORNING TIN MAN...... SIR WHEN YOU SAY YOURS STOPPED WORKING........ CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT STOPPED WORKING....?... QUESTIONS ARE WAS THE HELMET FULLY CHARGED UP IN SUN LIGHT, WAS THE LENSE (OUTER) CLEAN AND FREE OF SMOKE AND DIRT........ THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE LENSE.... THESE DETECT THE FLASH OF THE ARC..... IF THE LENSE MALFUNCTIONED I WILL HANDLE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CALL 1-800-332-3281 AND SPEAK TO MYSELF (ROCK) OR STEVE..... PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU IN THIS MATTER........... AND WELCOME TO THE SITE..........ROCK.........
[email protected]

[Swift]

I found that information on:

http://www.weldingsupply.com/cgi-bin/browsecatalogs.pl?UNDEF::

Thanks for the input. I feel like any quality helmet would probably fill the bill but I wanted to run it past some of you guys.

Take care,
Chris

[imported_tinman]

hey rock thx it is the lens that malfunctioned. when i was welding only the right half of the lens stopped in a diagonal line from top right side to bottom left side that is when you are wearing the helm . but it started working again the next time i used it . and i can see a difference in the lens the diagonal line shows when i look through the helm this incident occured a few months ago and i wont use the helm anymore i dont know if it will happen again or not .
needless to say it burnt my right eye pretty good at 450 amps

[ROCK]

TINMAN.......... LET'S DO THIS EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK IT IS WORKING OK I WOULD JUST AS SOON REPLACE IT AS TAKE A CHANCE.......... YOU CALL ME AT 1-800-332-3281 AND I WILL SEND YOU A LENSE. LET'S BE SAFE HERE WE ONLY GET ONE SET OF EYES.............. YOUR CALL........ROCK...
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[ASKANDY]

There are different types of helmet sensors used on the market now and how fast they respond to light changes. These sensors are called "passive" and "Active" The active sensors are the best with the pasive sensors changing when it senses a difference in ambiant light. The fact that the inverter powersources have such a smooth arc and low light emission (it's intense but in such a small local area) some helmets have a hard time locking into this arc. I have had this problem with the first generation Hobart helmets and had a Jackson that would always flash me at low level TIG too. I have had some of the new Hobart and MILLER hoods with the updated electronics and am good so far.

Hope this helps

Andy

[Sean Brown]

I had (still have I guess) a Huntsman Autoview XL since about '98. It worked like a champ until about three months or so ago. The only time I would get flashed is when the batteries get low, or if I was trying to weld with an obstruction between me an the arc.

In any event, it quit working and wouldn't stay on (no the batteries were new). I took it to the shop I bought it from and they have sent it in for replacement. The cost to get it back is about $130. I wonder if there is a better alternative? I really miss the thing now for making tricky tack welds and the like!

What are your thoughts?

Sean

[ASKANDY]

Sean,
Are you TIG or MIG welding??

I have a number of different helmets with my Optrel being the most expensive. The Miller XLi series workes great for around $200.
you can get by with a cheaper model if you are mostly doing MIG.

A-