REPLACING BATTERY BATTERIES IN brokeAUTO DARK HELMET to fix glass from not darkening?

admin

has anyone replaced batteries in an auto dark helmet? I searched and found no discussions on this. I have a cheap CENTURY welding helmet and the glass no longer darkens. I think I have had it for 2 or 3 years. it is my back up helmet and is only used when I want to show someone something that is being welded. The plastic case was fused shut I had to take a razor blade to pry it open on the inside is a cr2553 and cf2330 lithium battery batteries. if I get new batteries I will have to someone spot weld them back on. am I wasting my time or is the usual problem when fixing a helmet? thanks for any thoughful comments.
Reply:Completely wasting your time unless you find some sort of. Batterie holder.I had 2 Hobart auto darks that I bought from tractor supply just to have a decent hood I didn't care about beating up on dirty jobs. Within 2 years the batteries crapped out and like yours were spot welded to the board inside, needless to say I wasted $20 on batteries that burst open when I tried to spot them with some fishing line sized silver solder. (I have no idea how they weld them from the factory ) so I ended up getting a mid range solar mask, had it a few years and is still working I think, (haven't had to use it in a while)Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Some people rob battery holders from other equipment and run wires so that the batteries can be mounted externally.
Reply:you can get the batter holders and two batteries for about $10 on ebay. I think I will try. seems like a waste to throw something away just because the batteries died. These auto dark lenses are designed to not have the batteries replaced, how stupid.funny thing is I was trying to show someone how to tig weld and after five minutes they told me they couldn't see anything. The helmet had been broken the whole time and they were getting flashed with bright light and it took them a few minutes to realize something was wrong before they told me! This guy had stick welded before so I thought he would of known better, I guess not!
Reply:Glad you found a holder for the batteries. It really is a shame the way things are built today  (non serviceable equipment), we live in a disposable world now!!Anyway good luck hope it works for yaReal welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Mine uses four AAA series batteries and they are readily replaceable with a snap off of the rear cover. I can't remember the brand name, (Sellstrom)? but the glass is full sized like the older fixed shade types. Think I purchased it in 1996 or so and it's never failed me. It always has splashes of color on the lens when the batteries are too weak for it to work reliably.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:I changed batteriesThe battery was a rechargeable with leads spot welded on the battery endsThe battery part number gave me a direct replacement with spot welded leads that I soldered in place.The worst part is opening the plastic case and getting it all stuffed back together. snap together construction.If you go to bigger batteries in remote holders, it's possible that the solar panel wont' have the juice to recharge the larger batteries.
Reply:are there any auto dark helmets currently made today that have easy to replace batteries? All the ones I've see in person at any welding shop do not appear to have user replaceable batteries.
Reply:Mine don't have any batteries and works every time I need it.......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by AluminumWelderare there any auto dark helmets currently made today that have easy to replace batteries? All the ones I've see in person at any welding shop do not appear to have user replaceable batteries.
Reply:Originally Posted by copeHTP and Jackson NexGen use button cells that are easily replaced.
Reply:My Miller Elite also changes out batteries fine.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveMy Miller Elite also changes out batteries fine.
Reply:Miller digital performance series also has a replaceable battery. Original battery lasted about five years, replacement battery costs about $5.
Reply:Originally Posted by copeDave, you've got me there.  My hoods don't do a damned thing, I have to change the cells myself.
Reply:It occurs to me that those numbers are really strange for lithium batteries.
Reply:FiberMetal Pipeliner w/ Sellstrom FlipUp lense.  Batteries not required.  ADFs are dead to me."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Rounded mine up last evening. It is a Sellstrom Phantom Lite XL series and uses two, (not four) AAA series batteries. You can see by the photo the splotches of color in the lens which is an indication the batteries are about dead.I also have another much less expensive, (probably Harbor Freight) hood that was given to me but I've not used, nor even really looked at. I'm assuming by this thread they are designed to be non serviceable and simply thrown away when no longer functional?Thanks,SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:I've done this kind of battery replacement in other devices, and welding/silver solder/brazing is not necessary.  Just a dab of regular 60/40 rosin core solder will do the trick.  Don't use the kind of flux made for soldering water pipes; it will cause corrosion. Solder small (22 ga or smaller) copper wire on; don't try to re-use the steel strips originally used.  Get the soldering iron up to full heat, melt the solder on the iron first (I know, not the usual technique) and dab it onto the battery quickly.  It won't heat up the battery unduly - but practice on the old one first. This will make a bulkier joint, and you may have to kludge up something to hold the batteries in place as they might not fit back in where they came from.  But, there's plenty of room inside the helmet, cause you don't have that big a head, riiiight?
Reply:And another thing ... I have a cheapie HF auto-dark that's about 10 years old.  No batteries.  It's "solar" powered.  there's a photocell visible on the front in the corner of the lens, and it powers the lens with "sunlight" from the arc!Clever, huh?  The downside is reaction time is a bit longer than battery units, and also the size of the lens is much smaller than some.  It works fine for occasional use, but I'm thinking hard about getting one with the picture window sized lens and learning to live with yet another set of batteries.
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobI also have another much less expensive, (probably Harbor Freight) hood that was given to me but I've not used, nor even really looked at. I'm assuming by this thread they are designed to be non serviceable and simply thrown away when no longer functional?Thanks,
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobI also have another much less expensive, (probably Harbor Freight) hood that was given to me but I've not used, nor even really looked at. I'm assuming by this thread they are designed to be non serviceable and simply thrown away when no longer functional?Thanks,
Reply:The "solar" part will recharge a storage capacitor which will act like a battery for a short duration and act as a power source for the electronics while the hood is in operation.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....