Heat vs. Big Window Elite

[DDA52]

Andy,
I was reading an earlier post about the Big Window Elites and had a question. You said that you have seen auto dark lenses fail due to heat and extreme cold in storage areas. I was wondering, what exactly should the temp range be? I'm more interested in the heat aspect since it is on my mind more and more these days. My shop has a heat activated exhaust fan that is set at 105 - 110 deg. Shop temp when shut up can hit about 115 deg. Is this nearing the danger zone? The reason I thought of this is the fan activated yesterday for the first time this year. Also, what would be a reasonable limit for outside work temps? I've registered temps on my shops yard in the sun approaching 140 deg. Too much? I plan on keeping my Elite a long time and really don't want to cook it before I wear it out. Any insight would be appreciated.

Don

[H80N]

DDA52
do not know about the Elite but... had problems with a Jackson EQC in the cold last winter... would not darken when I struck an arc... but would when I turned my head toward the light.... when warmed back up to room temp it was fine again.... but next time it got chilled... became very flakey.... all in all... the EQC is one that I would not recomend... for a number of other reasons as well...
Bet that Andy could answer your specific question... would expect that Miller did a lot of temperature testing... maybe he could let us know the usable temp range??
take care
Heiti

[moe1942]

Big Window temps

Don,

The operating temp for this hood is 14 to 131deg F.

Storage temp is -4 to 158 deg F.

Think I'll store my hood n the house.....


moe194

[DDA52]

Hey Moe
Found my book this morning. I'm still wondering if those can be considered "real world " temps or should we be more conservative. I took mine in when I heard the fan go off. 'Bout scared me half to death! That sucker is loud when your not expecting it.
Anything new on the Bobus Catus front??

Don

[klsm54]

All electronic quick change hoods have an operating temperature range. I have been down this road before with Jackson, Optrel and Hornell and at one time had those specs for those three hoods. The only one I can find now is Hornell, it is from 23 degrees to 131 degrees, Farenheit. I doubt that any one hood has a big advantage over another in this range, at least they didn't when I had applications that were exceeding these ranges. Hopefully one of the Miller guys will enlighten us on this issue.

Whoops, I missed those previous posts, sorry about that...

[t500]

After reading H80N's post about his Jackson EQC, i think there may be a trend.

I also have a Jackson EQC that experienced problems after some time spent in the cold. I was using it in a semi-heated garage (probably 45 degrees) and the shade would occasionally not darken when striking an arc. After bringing it inside and letting it warm up it would not darken at all.

It was replaced under warranty, but this is something i would either expect not to happen or be warned about in the directions. This may have been a manufacturing defect, but the shade worked fine for a year and a half until it was used in the cold.

[moe1942]

Big Window

Don,

I'm going for conservative. When it gets too hot for me to weld I'm going to take my hood in the house and put it in the utility room. I don't mind putting out bucks for something I need but I only want to do it once over a reasonable length of time.

Good news on the Bob Cat front. Everything looks like it's a go. I was about to send you a PM to explain what I finally did to solidify the mod. Runs smooth as silk. Am going today to get leads, stinger etc.

moe1942

[ASKANDY]

I've seen more issues on older hoods than the new ones. The one I had a problem with was an older Miller/Hobart style and also had a Jackson puke out 4yrs ago. I still keep a demo Elite in the truck always and so far no temp problems. I'm inclined to say the temp ratings are conservative but have seen no documentation of actual failure temps. All I can tell you is from personal experience on this one, and I'm pretty rough on it, so far so good.

Sorry so vague...

A-

[DDA52]

Thanks Andy and ALL
Just wanted some input, no matter what it sounded like. I just wanted to be prepared before it gets hot..... hotter.

Thanks again

Don

[MrXtreme]

Watch out on the low temp side. LCDs tend to stop working in very cold environments. Military gear that use LCDs have heaters in them to work at low temps. Also some LCD types can be permanently damaged at very cold temps, and that includes storage, not just operation at cold.

James