What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

do i need to pull my alt before welding?

rwright07

rwright07

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Posts
535
Reaction score
0
Location
corporate hobo
im about to weld on some clevices and have heard both ways...
must i remove my alternator? or just disconnect everything from batteries, etc?
 
I have read that the battery needs to be disconneced. A lot of people don't. I have never seen a muffler shop disconnect the battery when they are welding in a new exhaust system.

What's the hazard or issue?
 
AZ79K5Project said:
I have read that the battery needs to be disconneced. A lot of people don't. I have never seen a muffler shop disconnect the battery when they are welding in a new exhaust system.

What's the hazard or issue?
Click to expand...

the hazard is when welding with the battery hooked up, the amps from the welder can travel and run thru your electronic devices and then out the battery to complete the circuit. the problem is when the amps travels thru it can make a power surge and damage your electronics
 
buffblazer said:
the hazard is when welding with the battery hooked up, the amps from the welder can travel and run thru your electronic devices and then out the battery to complete the circuit. the problem is when the amps travels thru it can make a power surge and damage your electronics
Click to expand...

Better safe, than replace.
 
I guess that explains why my voltmeter guage went dead when I had my new exhaust welded in at a shop last year :doah:
 
Here's another thing.... for those running on-board Power welders, you have to run the engine to get the rpm's up to weld, right? Well, in this case, we don't disconnect the batteries or the alternator.... is it still safe to weld?
 
I guess I got lucky cause I welded a new front bumper together on the truck and my exhaust and never disconnected anything. No problems at all with electronics or anything.

It is injected also.

Ira
 
JEBSR said:
Especially bad with a fuel injected vehicle.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea to also place the ground clamp near the electrode. You want the welding current going in as straight a line as possible, for instance, it would be stupid to have the ground clamp on one end of the vehicle and be welding on the other side, then you would have welding current traveling through all sorts of stuff before it reaches the work zone.

I've welded several fuel injected and computerized vehicles with out a problem and I've never unhooked or damaged anything. You have to be careful if you are going to mig or ac stick weld. I only do DC on vehicles.
 
well i welded on my new shackles... they were my first steel machined pieces and my first blazer welding project... worked out well and looks good
 
Keep in mind this is a possibility, not the rule. You could weld on the vehicle 100 times and not have a problem, but if you burn the ECM or anything else expensive on the 101st time, was it worth it? I just disconnect just in case. It's not worth taking the chance to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom