Wtf??????

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I was just setting up to do some carbon arc gouging and I had my welder on and I had my stinger laying on the floor and I was setting my my ground onto my work table and it ARCED ON ME. For the life of me I can not figure out what in the world happened I know my hot stinger wasn't in contact with my table I think something with the table's electric boxes might be screwed up or something. I have never had this happen before and I know the electrical boxes on the table have not been messed with in years so what are your thoughts on what happened fellas?
Reply:Depending on the machine and it's age, i've used quite a few that have residual electrical left in the gun or work clamp.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:???? I never even got my stinger near the table I was just setting down my ground clamp onto the table and this was the first morning weld.
Reply:sounds like a bare wire some were
Reply:Is your welder AC or DC?  I would have the wiring checked.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:If you have enough grinding dust and metal pieces on the floor, it can conduct enough electricity to do that. Wet concrete can conduct a little current when the voltage is high enough, as with HF on a TIG or Plasma but that is usually just enough to hurt you, not melt metal. Here "hurt" can occasionally mean "dead".If the electrical box on the table is grounded to it, or another wire in the box is 'shorted' to the table, then bad insulation inside the welder could provide a complete circuit. I would check the machine to be sure that the primary and secondary circuits are not electrically connected, and check the box for any bare  wires shorted to the box.  If you don't really understand all this, have a qualified electrician do it.Last edited by Oldiron2; 06-28-2008 at 06:15 PM.Reason: Added material.
Reply:i dont know how yours is connected to your welder but if the air fitting isnt totally covered by the boot and touching ground you can get an arc off of it.
Reply:Isolate the other lead and try again.  If it sparks, don't use it till its fixed.   You are hooking to the table that is grounded through the boxes on the table.... Not goodDavid Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Electrical boxes on the table?  HmmmmmCheck the tightness of your welding cable connections at the machine.They get loose from time to time.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2If you have enough grinding dust and metal pieces on the floor, it can conduct enough electricity to do that. Wet concrete can conduct a little current when the voltage is high enough, as with HF on a TIG or Plasma but that is usually just enough to hurt you, not melt metal. Here "hurt" can occasionally mean "dead".If the electrical box on the table is grounded to it, or another wire in the box is 'shorted' to the table, then bad insulation inside the welder could provide a complete circuit. I would check the machine to be sure that the primary and secondary circuits are not electrically connected, and check the box for any bare  wires shorted to the box.  If you don't really understand all this, have a qualified electrician do it.