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I think that's PME? Protective multiple earthing......Earth and neutral connected?
- Thread starter jackojacks
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madkayaker
Pro sparkey Pro Welder
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im sorry but if you don't know what that is put the screwdriver down and walk away!
madkayaker
Pro sparkey Pro Welder
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the the jobby. it turns a live to earth fault into a live to neutral fault that operates circuit protective device.
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brightspark
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on the tt overhead line supply an earth isnt supplied by the electricity board thus requiring rcd protection at source of supply in your house and an earth rod
jackojacks
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Just to update all that have tried to help me sort this problem out.
I think my problem is a very poor work earth clamp on the welder and having a perfect alternitive earth in the form of a steel drill bolted to a steel bench plugged in and earthed.
if the drill and grinder were not there my clamp would spark and weld its self to the bench but it seems to be using the tools as an easier route to earth
I have rewired drill and bench grinder they are fine.
Fitted new earth clamp to welder and that works fine.
I now intend to remove the bench grinder and Piller drill from the bench to stop this happening again .
im going to get a sparky in just to run some checks but all seems ok.
Thanks to all for your input.
I think my problem is a very poor work earth clamp on the welder and having a perfect alternitive earth in the form of a steel drill bolted to a steel bench plugged in and earthed.
if the drill and grinder were not there my clamp would spark and weld its self to the bench but it seems to be using the tools as an easier route to earth
I have rewired drill and bench grinder they are fine.
Fitted new earth clamp to welder and that works fine.
I now intend to remove the bench grinder and Piller drill from the bench to stop this happening again .
im going to get a sparky in just to run some checks but all seems ok.
Thanks to all for your input.
AndyStobbs
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Surely the welding circuit should still be isolated from the mains though. The welding current isn't trying to get to earth (as in the earth in the mains) its trying to get back to the other side of the circuitry which set it up in the first place - be that inverter or transformer etc.
BrokenBiker
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if you are still getting continuity between your return lead and your mains cpc (earth wire) you still have a problem. The welder return lead is a completely different circuit to the mains earth and should be isolated.
is your welding bench earthed to the mains?
is your welding bench earthed to the mains?
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Probably via the pillar drill & grinder casings?.
BrokenBiker
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that's what im thinking. Or if there are metalclad sockets mounted direct the metal metal bench. This would cause continuity between the return lead and the mains earth when the clamp is on the bench, would also explain why the drill and grinder are getting damaged
jackojacks
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[quote="Robotstar5, post: 509424, member: 2038"
Probably via the pillar drill & grinder casings?.
Yes Thats correct via the metal casings being bolted direct to the bench and the casings are earthed to the mains .
so i have removed them and everything seems ok. my earth lead where i connect to my bench was a very poor contact.
Have got a new earth clamp now also.
it also explains why i only had a problem when doing a welding job on the bench and ok when welding on the garage floor .
going to get a sparky to just double check things are safe .
Probably via the pillar drill & grinder casings?.
Yes Thats correct via the metal casings being bolted direct to the bench and the casings are earthed to the mains .
so i have removed them and everything seems ok. my earth lead where i connect to my bench was a very poor contact.
Have got a new earth clamp now also.
it also explains why i only had a problem when doing a welding job on the bench and ok when welding on the garage floor .
going to get a sparky to just double check things are safe .
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- 23,030
- Location
- Birmingham
If you do most of your welding on the bench, consider crimping a lug onto a spare work return (earth) lead and bolting it to the bench, that's how we had the production welding benches set up.
Also prevents this.....
Also prevents this.....
jackojacks
Member
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Yes i will do this thanks
Big Thanks to all for your help with this Much Appriciated
