First time TIG...Blew out garage door openers!

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Well, I've been MIG and OA welding for years. Finally got my Syncrowave 180SD hooked up and started to play around with it...........On mild steel I'm running welds like a pro! Thanks to a bunch of folks on this board. Not too dissimilar to OA welding.So I weld for a few hours. Having a ball. Go to open the garage door by pressing the door opener button, an nothing! Oh-Oh!Seems both garage door remotes went into some type of protection. I unplugged them and reconnected and all is well.............The alarm on my motorcycle also kept going off. And this isn't in any way hooked up to the shop wiring...........Strange?I sure hope the computer in my wifes brand new car parked a few feet away is OK...............Anyone else have issues like this?Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:Its gotta be the hi freq from your welder.  Read the manual and figure out how to make sure the hi freq has a path back to ground.  It happens.Do you have touch or lift start on DC instead of hi freq?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I'm not sure if it has lift start.........It's a Miller Syncrowave 180SDRoy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:I looked at miller site at the 200SD it has lift start.  Check your manual for DC operatioin.  You will still need hi freq start on AC.You may need to put your 220 in conduit.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:All 220 wiring is in EMT (conduit)........What is strange is that I used the welder again this AM and no issues.......Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:It may not be the welder, you could have had some strange electrical storm, who knows, report back if things change.
Reply:More welding this afternoon...............no problems.But when I came into the house after the welding, my wife was barking and the dog was telling me to take my shoes off!..............Very strange what these TIG machines can do.......Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:It's probably the hi-freq. I can weld with my Miller Econotig one or more times/days with no problem, then all of a sudden my wireless router locks up so bad I have to unplug it to reset. The router is a good 100 foot away in the house. My thought is when I inadvertainly start/stop the arc with the the torch too far away from the work piece is causing the problem. Basically too much RF.o.c.d.
Reply:I bet you are correct...........Since this only happened when I first started welding, and never having ever handled a TIG torch before, I had some serious arc leaping going on. And a number of welded tungsten to the work piece....When I used the welder subsequent times, I had the arc thing down pretty good and had no more  arc leap or welded tungsten............We'll see!Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:Well, at least,"First time TIG...Blew out garage door openers!"is better than: "First time acetylene...Blew out garage doors!"
Reply:Wear an aluminum foil hat while TIG welding with HF.
Reply:I was talking to my Miller dealer yesterday about the Syncrowave 200SD that I am getting and asked about the HF start causing problems. He said that you need a very good earth ground to stop electronics from being affected. HF will and can cause eletronic problems and the HF searches and destory's all types of electronic equipment. He said that if I ever had this porblem to make sure I have a good ground rod and that even adding an extra one to the shop wouldn't hurt. Not sure but I think you could ground your welding table and that would be even better. I wanted to check this out as I have garage door openers in my shop and didn't want get into troubles. The one question I keep wondering about is if vehicle computer can be affected at all. I think with the rubber tires it could happen. Has anyone ever heard or seen any problems.Last edited by jamlit; 03-22-2008 at 07:52 AM.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Just a thought.  My TA-185 uses a high voltage spark like from your car coil to start the arc.  No hi freq of any kind.   Its square wave, so it doesn't need continuous Hi Freq.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:If you don't already have the machine and the owner's manual, go to Miller's website and download it.In there is (usually) the section dealing with HF interference and how to prevent/minimize it.  Basically, you have to run any wiring in the area in metal conduit, and ground EVERYTHING metallic in the area.
Reply:Moonrise is correct, you'll find them here: http://www.millerwelds.com/service/ownersmanuals.phpJohn -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by David RJust a thought.  My TA-185 uses a high voltage spark like from your car coil to start the arc.  No hi freq of any kind.   Its square wave, so it doesn't need continuous Hi Freq.David
Reply:I think it would be called capacitor discharge start.  No, its not an option.  I have been zapped by hi freq, no big deal,  If this one gets me its EeeeHhaaa!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:But what if all the exsisting wiring is all ready in the walls. My shop is all completed so I really don't want to rewire it. My main power panel is out in the shop so I am well grounded. I think I may even add another earth ground for good measure. I will read the miller link and see whats up there.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Do you think? it causing problems with next door neighbors electronics. Why do you put two cents in when its only a penny for your thoughts? Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC Millermatic 150