Welding question regarding EMP

SniperCJ

SniperCJ

Sky God
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 2, 2001
1,144
3
Dallas,TX
#1
I am learning to TIG weld. My welder is located in the garage (of course). It seems to be launching EMP attacks. When I weld my sprinkler system randomly comes on and my electric fence gate occasionally opens.

Also, the other day my garage stereo stopped playing. I figured the welder EMP'd it, however i find that the stereo still works but the outlet it was plugged into does not. There is no breaker tripped.

Any suggestions??
 
#3
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

Are you sure that you don't live in Cuesta Verde Estates?

poltergeist.jpg


Hotlinked...
 
#6
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

Doing any welding on vehicles, I always hook up my antizapper. It protects all the electronic systems. I have had it for YEARS now and don't remember what I paid for mine
http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/OTC-3386.html
otc-3386.gif

The high frequency of a TIG is most likely causing it. I would sink a big copper rod into the ground and make a good ground for your welder. This may make it just a bit safer. Otherwise it is time for a licensed electrician.
 
#7
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

Its actually radiated emissions from the welder/arc. Home devices in the US are not required to be tested for immunity standards like that in the EU. The FCC CISPR 14 is a joke that is used in the US. Of course the industrial standard is more stringent when it comes to immunity requirements. You probably have the right tuned circuit to create an induce energy on the other circuits.
 
#9
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

I'll bet a couple bucks that your garage outlet that your radio was plugged into is protected by a GFCI outlet in another location. GFCI outlets are different from 'normal' outlets in that GFCI outlets have a panel side and a load side - one GFCI outlet can act as a ground fault protection for several other outlets. This serves to protect the entire 'chain' of outlets same as a GFCI circuit breaker, but at a greatly reduced cost. You should be familiar with GFCI outlets, as they are required within 6 feet of water (kitchen, bathrooms, outside) and when they trip you just push the button on the outlet to reset.

As far as the rest goes, you'd do well to have a dedicated outlet ran just for your TIG welder. The power draws of other items on a circuit you're trying to share with the welder will affect the amperage available to the welder, effectively changing the power available to you during the weld. It will probably run you a couple bucks to have an electrician install a plug below your panel, but it's worth it to have that dedicated circuit.
 
#10
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

The welder is on a dedicated circuit.

I didnt think to look in the chain for a GFCI outlet. I bet thats it.

Edit: There was a GFCI plug in the chain. That was it.

Thanks fellas!
 
#12
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

Sweet! A couple bucks my way...I'll put it on your tab.
smile.gif


If you are popping GFCI protection only when you run a welder, I'd suspect that either your ground or return wire on your welder circuit is either loose or of an insufficient size. What voltage are you running to your welder, 110 or 220?
 
#16
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

Do you have any ungrounded antennas outside your place? By ungrounded, I mean antennas that do not have a safety wire that somehow makes it back to the breaker box.
 
#17
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hink</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you have any ungrounded antennas outside your place? By ungrounded, I mean antennas that do not have a safety wire that somehow makes it back to the breaker box. </div></div>

Not that I'm aware of. Guess there's an antenna on the electric gate, so that might be one.
 
#19
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

If you mean large antenna, none I can think of.

I cant tie the problem to rain. I know of two occasions the sprinklers came on when it was dry. Ive only had the welder for a few months and it has gone on the whole time.
 
#20
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am learning to TIG weld. My welder is located in the garage (of course). It seems to be launching EMP attacks. When I weld my sprinkler system randomly comes on and my electric fence gate occasionally opens.

Also, the other day my garage stereo stopped playing. I figured the welder EMP'd it, however i find that the stereo still works but the outlet it was plugged into does not. There is no breaker tripped.

Any suggestions?? </div></div>
The problem is most likely, R/F.
A rented R/F scanner will confirm this. Just like jamming Radar, Cell phones, or any Radio/TV frequency signal, all you need is the freq more signal power an you can over ride an most times, take control of the targeted, device.

If you take control of your neighbors or City's junk,
grin.gif
Uncles R/F Geek squad will come knocking,...playing dumn is out at that point.
laugh.gif
 
#21
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

If you can dig up your local ham radio club, they most likely will have a guy that will scan your place for little of nothing or free.
Might be as simple as the welder shielding, or objects around it bouncing the signal towards the offending devices.
 
#22
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

I'm thinking that the issue could be insufficient ground path when the welder is in operation. This can be caused by a combination of dry ground and a ground rod for the house that is not long enough to bleed the power that the welder is drawing. An RF issue may cause the gate opener to operate uncommanded, but would not cause the sprinklers to operate or cause the GFCI switch to trip. If the ground rod is short and the ground is dry, the electrical resistance would be increased, and that power would be forced to take the path of least resistance, which in this case would be back through the house electrical system loads.
 
#24
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The welder is on a dedicated circuit.

I didnt think to look in the chain for a GFCI outlet. I bet thats it.

Edit: <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">There was a GFCI plug in the chain. That was it.</span></span>

Thanks fellas!</div></div>

So John, you found the problem then? Good for you. Enjoy the welding, as it can be both fun and challenging.
 
#25
Re: Welding question regarding EMP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sean the Nailer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So John, you found the problem then? Good for you. Enjoy the welding, as it can be both fun and challenging. </div></div>

Well, we found the cause of the stereo not working. Still looking into why it tripped the GFCI in the first place.

And ya, its definately been challenging
 
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