homelesshartshorns Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I been told that when doing welding on my rig I need to disconnect the batteries! Does the Salesmen switch do that good enough? Still seeing Places we have never seen before and others that we thought we would never see again! . homelesshartshorns | Trying to spend the last Dollar on the Last Day! (wordpress.com) George Hartshorn | Facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouserl41 Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 No, a stray ground can fry all the electronics. Disconnect ALL the batteries before welding to be safe. BnB 2009 Monaco Cayman DP 38' bnbrv.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Remove the posotive lead and be sure you have a good ground for welder as close to where the weld will be as possible. If you need to run a self tapping screw in part way to hook your ground clamp to. Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Well, I have been guilty of welding on our rig without disconnecting anything. First was the exhaust pipe extension for the APU and the second was welding the plate extension to our ET hitch to accommodate the new safety lock holes. Both times we made sure that we had a good ground and that it was within a few inches of the weld. I'm sure there are others that have done this as well. It might not be recommended but given some precautions, I went ahead instead of pulling the battery cables ahead of time. To be completely safe, go ahead and disconnect the battery. 2023 Thor Magnitude XG32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIBERNUT Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 AND- wait at least 10 mins. The air bags have a residual charge so even if the battery is damaged in a crash, the bag still inflates for a short period of time 2000 Volvo 635 A/S, N-14 Cummins"The Phoenix"'03 KA 38KSWB http://s918.photobucket.com/user/sibernut/library/?sort=6&page=1Furkids- Sibe's CH. Sedona & Tseika Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjhunter01 Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I have welded a rear hitch on my trailer and vehicles in the past and never touched any batteries. It's all about the ground, if you have a weak grounding connection then your vehicle could be at risk. Any good welder knows to grind a fresh connection near the weld area for a good contact. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I have welded a rear hitch on my trailer and vehicles in the past and never touched any batteries. It's all about the ground, if you have a weak grounding connection then your vehicle could be at risk. Any good welder knows to grind a fresh connection near the weld area for a good contact. Greg Even a not so good welder , like me . Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 We weld in very sensitive electronics area routinely. Just ground close to weld. Current follows ground to weld. Creates a circuit. Grounding anywhere will get you in trouble. I wouldn't think twice about welding on my truck. 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57becky Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 We had the frame on our trailer repaired last year, and the mobile RV/welder guy disconnected nothing and we had no issues with AC or battery powered things. Not sure if some MH's or tow vehicles can be welded on without problems, but it may be prudent to just disconnect to be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundancer268 Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 If the Manufacture recommends it I would not hesitate to disconnect the batteries, an engine or transmission computer is not cheap to replace. Many others have done it and got away with it, they also have probably won the lottery, I have not. Your call, good luck. U.S. Navy GSMC(SW) (RETIRED) 1993-11-01, 26 years service with 23 years of that active and 3 years reserve. Now retired after 20 years at local hospital in the maintenance department. 1995 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 34' DP W/6Spd Allison. Road Master Sterling All terrain, Air Force One, towing new 2019 Jeep Cherokee Elite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjhunter01 Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 If the Manufacture recommends it I would not hesitate to disconnect the batteries, an engine or transmission computer is not cheap to replace. Many others have done it and got away with it, they also have probably won the lottery, I have not. Your call, good luck. How does disconnecting a battery protect the transmission computer? If you think about it doesn't make sense. The electrical system has many grounding points to the vehicle frame (ie. starter ground) and the battery is only one of them. By disconnecting the battery you will only isolate the battery but not anything else. If your goal is to isolate a transmission computer, then you need to unplug the electrical connector. Most newer vehicles have up to 10 computers on board. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 How does disconnecting a battery protect the transmission computer? If you think about it doesn't make sense. The electrical system has many grounding points to the vehicle frame and the battery is also grounded to the frame. By disconnecting the battery you will only isolate the battery but not anything else. Greg If those amps coming out of that welder happen to feed back into the ground on a circuit somethings gonna fry ( not likely ) but just how long does it take to be sure and unhook a battery cable ? Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundancer268 Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 How does disconnecting a battery protect the transmission computer? If you think about it doesn't make sense. The electrical system has many grounding points to the vehicle frame and the battery is also grounded to the frame. By disconnecting the battery you will only isolate the battery but not anything else. Greg Like I said "IF THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS IT" U.S. Navy GSMC(SW) (RETIRED) 1993-11-01, 26 years service with 23 years of that active and 3 years reserve. Now retired after 20 years at local hospital in the maintenance department. 1995 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 34' DP W/6Spd Allison. Road Master Sterling All terrain, Air Force One, towing new 2019 Jeep Cherokee Elite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Like I said folks. Welding creates a circuit. Just keep wiring and such out of the current path. Simple, ground close to weld. Current will always take path of least resistance. What what do I know. Just started welding professionaly in 75 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouserl41 Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Why bother wasting 2 minutes to disconnect the battery? After all it's only a couple of thousand dollars to replace any fried electronics. And yes READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! BnB 2009 Monaco Cayman DP 38' bnbrv.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCooter Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Like already posted above......disconnecting the batteries only isolates the batteries! If you want to protect your electronics from a freak spike they would have to be disconnected themselves. Been welding on vehicles for 25 years and not a single issue! It's all about where you ground your work. 1999 Peterbilt 385 C12 430/1650 13spd 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 2010 Hitchhiker Champagne 36 LKRSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjhunter01 Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Like I said "IF THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS IT" The reason a manufacture suggest disconnecting a battery is to prevent it from exploding from an electric spike, which would be a bad thing by itself (and a liability issue). Disconnecting the battery is still a good thing, but don't be misled to believe your computers are protected. If a welding current tries to find earth ground and its path is through a circuit board, that electric spike will destroy it. As others have said, if you have a good welding ground, the current will take the path of least resistance to earth ground Think of current as water on top of a mountain. The water will take the path of least resistance to the ocean (sea level), taking advantage of streams and valleys along the way. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay L Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I have seen welding done on vehicles many times with no problems and if you write the loop equations you can see that if the ground is very close to the weld there should be no problems. However my Allison transmission said to disconnect the transmission connector, so just in case I missed something I did disconnect it and the batteries when I welded a fuel line heat shield back on. Clay(WA5NMR), Lee(Wife), Katie & Kelli (cats)Full timed for eleven years in our 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Snowbirds for 1 year. Now settled down in western CO.Honda Accord toad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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