Power Surge Protection ?

[Rivets]

Hi,

Some posts on this forum confirm that inverter welders are more electronically sensitive than transformer welders. (See thread on generators).

Would it be beneficial to use some kind of surge protection at the mains, and if so, what type ?

Thanks,
Rivets

[everlastsupport]

Surge protection at the mains will protect everything you have. I have them installed, but I have a friend that owns an electrical company. So I saved on the parts and install.

Chances of a surge when you're welding would probably be very rare and the unit would be off most of the time. I would not do it just for a welder. Also, and not to start a debate, lightening seems to be something that can't be stopped if you take a direct hit. The surge protectors I have now are my second set and the first set did not save everything.

[performance]

As far as minor surges, the unit can handle some variation in power, up to 10% either way.

[A/C Guy]

In most areas, I would think low voltage would be more of a concern than surges. In our area, we do more repairs to A/C's after brown out than after lightening storms. ICM makes a low cost voltage monitor that cuts the power if voltage drops below 96 on any leg or goes over 256 on any leg.

[performance]

Low voltage won't hurt things any more than high voltage will. Its the Hertz that makes a difference.

[A/C Guy]

Is that inherent because of the inverter design?
Is that an advantage over transformer based units?
Are inverters less prone to damage from low voltage compared to transformer based welders?

[performance]

I didn't say it wouldn't have any effect, just that it won't pose any MORE problems than over volatage. As I said we have an allowance of 10% over or under. Neither should have a problem. 208 appears to work fine on our units without any issues.

[Robert s]

Surge protection at the mains will protect everything you have. I have them installed, but I have a friend that owns an electrical company. So I saved on the parts and install.

Chances of a surge when you're welding would probably be very rare and the unit would be off most of the time. I would not do it just for a welder. Also, and not to start a debate, lightening seems to be something that can't be stopped if you take a direct hit. The surge protectors I have now are my second set and the first set did not save everything.

As far as lightning strike protection goes. I live just outside the water districts reach so I have a well for water. In my well house I have a lightning protector in the circuit for the pump, has never failed me. So I decided to wire one in to my shops electrical system to protect my more expensive machines and it has saved me once and it paid for its self. While unplugging saves you when it is not in use it will fry it on a stormy day in the shop.

P.S. NEVER SAY NEVER

[kenwhite]

A lightning strike is considered impulse noise and is rich in harmonic frequencies of varying amplitudes.

So good single point grounding system is very important.

What these means, if you are concerned with the welders safety during a storm, make sure you have a dedicated circuit/branch connected directly to the service entrance - do not have any other circuits connected to this branch.

If the ground is daisy-chained, and its power is derived from a couple different branches, then the return and grounds can be at quite different voltage potentials which will cause damage.

[A/C Guy]

If the ground is daisy-chained, .... which will cause damage.

The NEC (article 300 I think) prohibits daisy chaining grounds. They need to be direct permanent circuit/ paths.

[kenwhite]

The NEC (article 300 I think) prohibits daisy chaining grounds. They need to be direct permanent circuit/ paths.

Many branch circuits have the ground connected between outlets and light circuits - this is a daisy chain...

A single point ground would have a single ground wire all the way back to the service entrance ground rod for every circuit within every branch...

[Nikola Tesla]

I didnt know they made larger surge protectors for larger machines. You would think a larger machine would have it built into the power supply. I do know a lot about electrical applications. However, never came across larger protectors. Even installed hospital back up systems before. I suppose today with more computerized everything cleaner electricity and lightning protection is coming into play. Ide still think on a lager machine it would have it built in. Better safe than sorry. Always make sure you have a good ground, always! If your panel is up to date it should be well grounded. It should be case grounded, commen grounded, block grounded and wire grounded. You will only make that mistake once. You wont get a second chance. He is right about the NEC on piggy tailing grounds. My 250 is turned on and off by a switch rated breaker. I dont think I have to worry about lightning. I would never be welding in a lightning storm. I suggest you dont either. Not sure if that helps at all.

[Canada]

Unfortunately lighting can strike even on a clear sunny day. I know I have been in my shop on cold wet days. In fact those are usually the best days to work in there. All my 220 circuits are single use only. Only the 110 are in branches. I have never had any damaging surges or brown outs (knock on wood!), or unplugged any equipment unless I am going to work on it or change a blade. I have been in that shop for fifteen years. If your worried I know you can get whole house surge protection (100 amp) but I have never priced one out.