welding quick question...

[cardude]

I have been practicing welding and okay at this point. I wanted to weld in a patch or two in the floor of my 66, and I wanted to double check disconnecting the battery. I remember reading in the past to disconnect the positive lead, does this mean I should keep the neg lead connected or does not matter?

dont want to zap my stuff if at all possible.

thanks

 

[iskwezm]

If you disconnect the positive,your battery isnt completing the "ciruit",you'll be fine.

 

[bdavis]

I've always heard of horror stories about this but I run a circle track dirt car and weld on it every week with out disconnecting anything. I have a 66 coupe I was welding on last night and did not disconnect any thing either?

Both cars have complete MSD 6al systems.

I just always hook my ground as close to my work as possible.

Not sure why some people have problems with this????? I must be lucky.

 

[shotsy]

Electricity will always take the path of least resistance, battery shouldnt come into play unless your welding right near it, but in the words of a wise old man an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!!

 

[oz]

yea, as long as the car is sitting on the tires, the electricity will flow between the welders ground wire and arc. The only time I would be concerned for the battery would be if there was a ground strap attached to the body somewhere between the welder ground and arc.