250 EX question

[Zach]

Hi guys, just did my intro in the intro section. Have a question about well and of the newer inverter type TIG welders. I have heard they can interfere with TV, radio computers ect when welding on AC. I'm planning on getting a 250EX and will be using it in my garage at home. Will my neighbours hate me and girlfriend leave me? The vast majority of the work I'll be doing is TIG welding aluminum! Who here are using these machines in their garages at home? Thanks for any help!

[Rambozo]

Any type of arc welder can cause some interference. After all they are really large spark gap transmitters. Inverters are actually a little better than older transformer machines that required continuous high frequency arc stabilization on AC. You can help by adding a good ground to the machines grounding point. I find any interference is pretty short range, so neighbors are probably not an issue. But you might get some blips when you start the arc with HF. Of course all these machines also support lift arc starts, just for situations where HF interference is a problem. AM radio is the most susceptible, and who uses that anymore?

[performance]

Rambozo is right. It's the older transformers that were bad. AC is no different than DC with the inverter. The only time they generate HF is at the moment of starting. Yes it can interfere...not going to lie. But that is something that is unlikely if your place is wired right and you take the precautions like adding a second ground using the bolt on the back of the machine and running it to a separate ground rod outside. Don't keep your cell phone in on you too. It may flicker the fluorescent lights.

[DaveO]

Welcome, Zach- I don't use a 250EX, but I am a garage welder too, and I have not caused interference inside the house. I would definitely hear about it if I was!

[arctime]

I've got a 250EX and have run a separate stranded 10 ga ground to a dedicated 8' ground rod. I've also grounded my garage door rails and opener to that same rod with some solid 8ga. For the short time I've been using it, I've never had any issues (yet, knock on steel) with all the electronics I have in my EE geek house. Don't run the welder's chassis ground connection to a ground plug in ANY electrical outlet.

[Zach]

Thanks for the help guys, it helped alot. Can anyone explain more in detail the second grounding? Is it as simple as it sounds running a cable to a stake into the ground? The bolt on the back of the machine, is this permanently hard wired or easily removable when moving the machine around? Thanks

[Rambozo]

Thanks for the help guys, it helped alot. Can anyone explain more in detail the second grounding? Is it as simple as it sounds running a cable to a stake into the ground? The bolt on the back of the machine, is this permanently hard wired or easily removable when moving the machine around? Thanks

Yes, it is just that simple. It is a bolt, so pretty easy to undo if you need to move things. You may not even need to use it. A lot depends on how good the grounding system in your power wiring is. The ground wire in the power cord is also bonded to the chassis, so the secondary ground is somewhat redundant. But it's nice to have if you are chasing interference problems. A lot depends on the condition of your shop grounding system, some are water pipes, some ground rods, and a lot of that stuff can have oxides and such causing some resistance, and your soil type also comes into play. Even old 240 outlets that are not used much can get tarnished contacts and such. If everything is clean and tight, you won't need anything else. But if not, just add that separate ground rod to drain off the HF and you will be good to go. Just try it and see, before you worry about adding anything. There is a good chance that you won't need to do anything but plug and play.

[Zach]

Excellent, thanks very much all.