Earthing Question

admin

Hi Guys Happy New Yearjust thought id ask if anyone's tried this, got a Stt and a 205t sitting together in a rack i made, i'm sick of tripping over 2 earths, would it do no harm to make up a 2 into 1 earth?Surely it's no different to having the 2 machines earthed to bench with them both running?Just though id ask encase it's really dumb
Reply:I think this is OK, just so long as both machines are set to the same polarity.  If you don't set them to the same polarity, I think you can get dangerously high voltages across the arc.So if you're running multiple processes on one or both machines, I don't know that I'd do this.  Just a safety item I think is worth considering...Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:[QUOTE=Krum;244567]Hi Guys Happy New Yearjust thought id ask if anyone's tried this, got a Stt and a 205t sitting together in a rack i made, i'm sick of tripping over 2 earths, would it do no harm to make up a 2 into 1 earth?Surely it's no different to having the 2 machines earthed to bench with them both running?Just though id ask encase it's really dumb..................................................  ..............................................................  ..................................................  ..................................................................................  ..................................................  .................................I would install quick disconnects at each machine, that way ,which ever machine is not being used at the moment can be disconnected.[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Hi Ron,I'm running quick connectors, still a pain, your right 1 is EP the other EN but if they are both turned on and earthed to the same bench, what is the difference? I have run two earths in the past, just another cable to trip on
Reply:I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but if you fellows continue referring to your welding machine's work lead and clamp as "earth" or "ground" you are eventually going to get into trouble.  It is a "WORK CLAMP" and a "WORK LEAD"  and has absolutely nothing to do with earth or ground.  It is there only to provide a return path for the welding current from the electrode back to the machine.  The "work clamp" could in fact have an electrical potential very different from that of the soil beneath your feet.  This is why metal welding benches should have a connection to the real "earth ground", meaning the dirt and soil of our planet.Combining the work leads from two machines into one has already been discussed in this forum, look through the electrical section.  Oh yes, it can be done, but in my opinion as an electronics technician this is not a good practice.    'nough said.-MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.