Dual Bottle Rack for MM251

[Darmik]

Funny how this started on bottle racks and ended up on surge surpressors Never know which way these will go.

Hey HMW that's to funny

[Bmxin^Bjorn]

Darmik Hey Bmxin^Bjorn sounds to me like you know how to use one of those and ya I did that running vehicle thing to that's why I have one.
O ya before I forget how much for the white cargo trailer in your yard?I pass it every day on my way to work.I have an F150 XL that should be good enough eh.?To weld on a welder dont use that welder use a different one that 251 very fussey machine I know I paid $4400.00.for one MM251.


Hey Darmik i think the cargo trailer your talking about belongs to a customer and isent for sale.. sorry.. the truck would be fine tho.. the customer is using a ford ranger to tow it .. i'm not 100% shure witch one your talking about tho. We dont sell cargo trailers because theres no money in it for us.. but i know our surrey location sells em. we only sell utility and huge custom trailers.

[HMW]

Funny how this started on bottle racks and ended up on surge surpressors Never know which way these will go.

[sjmiller]

Disconnect the Battery

I needed to do some welds on the rear bumper of my RV, I didn't disconnect the battery because I was grounding a few inches from the weld location. It only cost me $200 to replace the stereo - won't do that again.

Steve

[JonnyTIG]

In working for Finning I have never used or seen used a surge protector, though I have used them in the automotive industry. In two years I've not heard of any ECM or electronic failiures due to welding on CATS. In my opinion those problems stem from improper grounds. Maybe I'll get bit in the ... one day.

[Darmik]

battery's

I guess. Sometimes we can get away with something 100 times, then it bites us

you forgot to finish that line( right in the azz) and you are so very right.
I'm not saying dont unplug them it's just another step but safety does come first.I'm sure it will me as well but for the time that I have been in this business it hasen't happened yet and hopefully it never does. but as everybody knows sh!t happens eh at some point in time.You, Bmxin^Bjorn and I could go on about this subject probably forever with agree and disagree but I think you , Bmxin^Bjorn and myself we are all right on the money about this one tiny subject.Thaks for your in put though.When I was in autobody you were only required to disconnect the neg side of the battery I got out as soon as I got my papers but a friend of mine still disconnects the neg side.

[HMW]

Darmik,
Even though we dont have a surge surpressor I cant see how you could use it wrong form your picture. Looks like you hook it up to the positive and negative terminals and turn it on. Is there more to it than that? I can't tell from your pic or the catalog. How does it work? Must be like a big condensor inside?? The last CAT ECM we bought was around $1000.00 + 300.00 in Fees from the dealer to download all the data into it. And we didn't burn it up welding it just went bad. All the CAT schools we have attended said disconnect the battieries AND the ECM. So for $1300.00 I think we'll still unplug them. On a side note, we have welded on trucks many times and forgot to unhook everything and nothing happened, lucky I guess. Sometimes we can get away with something 100 times, then it bites us

[Darmik]

Surge Protectors

Hey Bmxin^Bjorn sounds to me like you know how to use one of those and ya I did that running vehicle thing to that's why I have one.
O ya before I forget how much for the white cargo trailer in your yard?I pass it every day on my way to work.I have an F150 XL that should be good enough eh.?To weld on a welder dont use that welder use a different one that 251 very fussey machine I know I paid $4400.00.for one MM251.

[Trap Doctor]

Thanks Everyone for all the great info. I will post photo's when the project is complete.

jim

[Bmxin^Bjorn]

hey darmik i have the exact same battery clamps too ..
there ausome.. where always welding on vehicles cz where in the hitch businuss and never had a problem with em.. i think the only time i forgot to put em on was on a big freightliner and it was running and the alternator got fried from the welding current .. i was welding like 30 feet back from it too , i was shocked that welding current could do such a thing.
i know now tho DONT WELD ON RUNNING VEHICLES!.
i know its not good to weld on the welder that is being used to weld tho.. i have a feeling that a new welder like the 251 has computer like parts and could be fried as well

[burnie]

2 cents

I also have 2 bottles on my MM251 but the best mod was putting big air filled tires underneath in place of the plastic wheels. I think they're 6in. diameter (can't recall) but with 2 swivels on the front and 2 straight in back, getting around with those big bottles is easy. I have no prob with stability even with big bottles unless a tire goes low. My floor is screwed from D8's and trackhoes so the plastic wheels were useless.

[TomVeatch]

... Can you weld to the existing rack without removing it from the welder?...

I really can't speak to the MM251, but my MM180 has what's called "Miller's exclusive "Tip Saver" short circuit protection" that shuts the welder down if the tip shorts to the work. I believe that also prevents you from welding when the welder case is grounded to the work.

At least that's the way it seemed to work with mine. I was trying to tack a tool holder on the cart I built for my MM180 with the welder sitting on the cart. As soon as the arc struck, it shut down. Tried it several times before the light dawned. Took the welder off the card and could do what I needed to do without a problem.

[Darmik]

Surge Protectors

surge protectors first of all you really need to know how to "use" them and what ther function is okay when you are welding put the ground clamp as close to the work area as you can because we all know how electricity flows so keep it close.We have never had a problem with what Richard had to say I guess it all depends on whom you talk to.Some service people at cat,finning,detroit diesel, know there stuff and some dont (senior Experience is always better).I dont mean to affend the younger people on here).

[Richard]

do NOT use one of those surge protectors and think you are ok. we used to use them even thow Caterpillar said to disconnect the battery cables. then one day while using the surge protector when welding , we fried the computer on one of their trucks ...oops. yea that was expensive . . so now we always disconnect the cables.
please Don't use those surge protectors

[84ZMike]

Ronnie....can you post up (in another thread) some more info on your 210 carrier...I like it....you may want to submit it to Miller for the contest.
Mike