Protecting household electronics while welding

[diddler]

All,

It was recently recommended to me that I protect my household electronics (mainly computers, TV, etc) with some flavor of surge suppressors, specifically with regards to using a welder. I imagine it's a good idea to use surge suppressors on home electronics to protect from voltage spikes due to lightning or screw-ups with the power company, though I've never really bothered.

What do you think? Is there any good reason to add protection to home appliances while running a (in this case, MIG) welder plugged into home wiring?

Thank you!

Ryan

[Cgotto6]

I have only heard of people getting interference due to high frequency in tig machines.

[Broccoli1]

Mig welding is fine

[elvis]

Does the hf part only apply to old style tig machines with the gaps and such? Or does it apply to the blue lightning type machines as well? Where Do the hf start max star machines fit into that?

[bfjou812]

When ever I use my Maxstar 150 for TIG in my garage/shop I get some interference on the FM stereo radio I have playing. When using my HH 210 there isn't a problem. Just my 2 cents worth........

[diddler]

If, in the future I do get a TIG with HF start and start running into interference, is it something that would actually be stopped by having the problematic device (TV, radio) on a surge suppressor? Or is that type of interference just going to pass through since it isn't really a surge?

Thanks!

Ryan

[davido30093]

Surge suppressor

is that type of interference just going to pass through since it isn't really a surge?

YES.

You should always have surge suppressors on all sensitive electronic equipment, but it has nothing to do with your welder.

The HF interference from a tig welder will NOT be blocked by a surge suppressor.

[Cgotto6]

Cruizer has posted a few times on how to deal with stray hf. A little searching and you could find it.

[Broccoli1]

Does the hf part only apply to old style tig machines with the gaps and such? Or does it apply to the blue lightning type machines as well? Where Do the hf start max star machines fit into that?

All machines that use HF.

[Ltbadd]

Cruizer has posted a few times on how to deal with stray hf. A little searching and you could find it.

I'm guessing here, but I'd say it has to do with how the machine is grounded, and I don't mean the work ground.

[ja baudin]

Start at the machine and tie wrap the work lead cable and torch cable together for the first foot or two. For tig. Sould help with your HF problems per Cruizer's instructions. Subject search should bring up the specifics.

[H80N]

Cruizers Cure...

Start at the machine and tie wrap the work lead cable and torch cable together for the first foot or two. For tig. Sould help with your HF problems per Cruizer's instructions. Subject search should bring up the specifics.

+1... Here is one of those threads...

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?33631-Question-on-welding-cables-and-HF&highlight=zip+ties

[WillieB]

Manuals with Miller TIG machines have detailed instructions how to control interference from HF. I wasn't aware it caused damage, only nuisance interference with radio or TV reception.

[Sberry]

Don't worry about this unless it is a real problem. All this surge suppression equipment is a poor bandaid blanket approach and about like an extended warranty on a 4# hammer. A real look at grounding electrodes and electrical ground pathways will be an actual return on effort.
The "surge suppressor" is touted by the suppressor people, not that it doesn't work on occasion but is a poor substitute for lightning strike pathway.
This is the only surge on a line. The rest is pretty much nonsense for our practical purpose.

[Sberry]

I wasn't aware it caused damage, only nuisance interference with radio or TV reception.

Never seen damage happen.