how high the voltage in a stick welding machine can reach?

[meni]

Hello, I have an inverter 200 amps welding machine and I was wondering if the voltage goes up while I'm welding. the welder should have 60 volt before starting to weld, which is border with safety voltage. is I'm welding in the heat goes up conductivity goes down I assume the welder try to compensate and higher the voltage and so the surface has higher voltage. is it true? thank you

[smithdoor]

The old buzz box's typically have 40 to 80 ocv.
This aids in start the weld then drops down to 18 to 24 volts for most rod. Larger rods may a higher voltage.

The voltage is taken from the stinger and point of weld not the machine.

Dave

Hello, I have an inverter 200 amps welding machine and I was wondering if the voltage goes up while I'm welding. the welder should have 60 volt before starting to weld, which is border with safety voltage. is I'm welding in the heat goes up conductivity goes down I assume the welder try to compensate and higher the voltage and so the surface has higher voltage. is it true? thank you

[Louie1961]

Most stick and TIG welders are constant current, even if it is an inverter, so I would expect the voltage to change as the welder tries to maintain a constant welding current. But that voltage change may be up or down. The arc length will be the main factor in that.

[Oscar]

Hello, I have an inverter 200 amps welding machine and I was wondering if the voltage goes up while I'm welding. the welder should have 60 volt before starting to weld, which is border with safety voltage. is I'm welding in the heat goes up conductivity goes down I assume the welder try to compensate and higher the voltage and so the surface has higher voltage. is it true? thank you

You're thinking about it too much. The local conductivity goes down due to temperature, but the path of least resistance will be followed, which will be along the lower temperature gradient. And even then, its not that much different. Clamp an ammeter to your stinger or work clamp and record it as you weld. I'd bet you'd be surprised at how small the difference is.

[52 Ford]

Hello, I have an inverter 200 amps welding machine and I was wondering if the voltage goes up while I'm welding. the welder should have 60 volt before starting to weld, which is border with safety voltage. is I'm welding in the heat goes up conductivity goes down I assume the welder try to compensate and higher the voltage and so the surface has higher voltage. is it true? thank you

I believe the highest OCV you'll see in a constant current welder is 80 volts.

https://www.materialwelding.com/what...r%20insulation.

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[meni]

Most stick and TIG welders are constant current, even if it is an inverter, so I would expect the voltage to change as the welder tries to maintain a constant welding current. But that voltage change may be up or down. The arc length will be the main factor in that.

so could it be above 80 volt for example? because it evolves means if I touch the metal that I'm welding I might get electrified right?

[meni]

You're thinking about it too much. The local conductivity goes down due to temperature, but the path of least resistance will be followed, which will be along the lower temperature gradient. And even then, its not that much different. Clamp an ammeter to your stinger or work clamp and record it as you weld. I'd bet you'd be surprised at how small the difference is.

I would like to try it but I will need the partner and then try maybe I will come and give an update in the future

[meni]

I believe the highest OCV you'll see in a constant current welder is 80 volts.

https://www.materialwelding.com/what...r%20insulation.

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leather gloves are about heat insulation not electric insulation so I'm not sure whether 80 volts is not too dangerous

[danielplace]

leather gloves are about heat insulation not electric insulation so I'm not sure whether 80 volts is not too dangerous

Just do not put yourself between the stinger/rod and the work.

Work smart. Wear good shoes and standup when you need to mess with the stinger or load a new rod.

[mla2ofus]

I agree with oscar, you're overthinking this. You apparently have a fear of electricity. By using common sense you'll eventually get over this. Post #9 explains this common sense.

[smithdoor]

I agree.
Alway use proper clothing even in 110°F days.

I have read a few welders had over 100 OC voltage it will give a shock too.

Dave

Just do not put yourself between the stinger/rod and the work.

Work smart. Wear good shoes and standup when you need to mess with the stinger or load a new rod.

[Oldendum]

My 1974 Miller Dialarc 250 is 75 vdc or 76 vac. Of course the peak voltage on AC could be higher depending on how it's specified.

[Welder Dave]

SA 200's if I recall have up to 93 open circuit volts. Normally you can get a pretty good shock but not enough to do you any harm. Sometimes for what ever reason you can get a bigger shock that really opens your eyes. Won't kill you but can give you a good scare. My welding teacher in school used to make everyone hold the rod and ground clamp to show the shock won't harm you but he stopped doing that when he got a really good shock one time.

[idacal]

I was welding a cap on an artisian well with an sae 200 i dont know my amps but young and dumb i had my waterproof boots in the ditch were the 100 gallon a minute was flowing over i was completely drenched, once you get so wet who cares, well im welding away went to change rods got a mild shock from wet gloves, jerked and dropped my stinger down between my soaked pants and my boots, felt like someone kicked me in the gonads and wouldnt stop. im trying to get the stinger out while im getting a dc shock, nuts up around my lungs and everytime i grabbed at it i would get shocked somewere else the other guys there were laughing so hard they they couldnt help me it was probably only seconds but felt like minutes, finally got it untangled. and i welded the cap on a different way. So basicly it will not kill you just hurt like the almighty is mad at you

[12V71]

I was welding a cap on an artisian well with an sae 200 i dont know my amps but young and dumb i had my waterproof boots in the ditch were the 100 gallon a minute was flowing over i was completely drenched, once you get so wet who cares, well im welding away went to change rods got a mild shock from wet gloves, jerked and dropped my stinger down between my soaked pants and my boots, felt like someone kicked me in the gonads and wouldnt stop. im trying to get the stinger out while im getting a dc shock, nuts up around my lungs and everytime i grabbed at it i would get shocked somewere else the other guys there were laughing so hard they they couldnt help me it was probably only seconds but felt like minutes, finally got it untangled. and i welded the cap on a different way. So basicly it will not kill you just hurt like the almighty is mad at you

Did that once straddling a wet pipe. All was good 'til the gloves got wet, then the stinger went flying into the pond.

[52 Ford]

I was welding a cap on an artisian well with an sae 200 i dont know my amps but young and dumb i had my waterproof boots in the ditch were the 100 gallon a minute was flowing over i was completely drenched, once you get so wet who cares, well im welding away went to change rods got a mild shock from wet gloves, jerked and dropped my stinger down between my soaked pants and my boots, felt like someone kicked me in the gonads and wouldnt stop. im trying to get the stinger out while im getting a dc shock, nuts up around my lungs and everytime i grabbed at it i would get shocked somewere else the other guys there were laughing so hard they they couldnt help me it was probably only seconds but felt like minutes, finally got it untangled. and i welded the cap on a different way. So basicly it will not kill you just hurt like the almighty is mad at you

That pretty much defines "learning the hard way".

I've had the good fortune to not have to weld in the water.

Worst I recall doing is when I was welding up something in the mud, I was knelt down in the mud, finished my tack welds, layed the stinger next to me, and as I stood up, I slipped and jammed the stinger into my arm. Shock went from my left arm to my right knee. It HURT.

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[WNY_TomB]

Hello, I have an inverter 200 amps welding machine and I was wondering if the voltage goes up while I'm welding. the welder should have 60 volt before starting to weld, which is border with safety voltage. is I'm welding in the heat goes up conductivity goes down I assume the welder try to compensate and higher the voltage and so the surface has higher voltage. is it true? thank you

.
OCV open circuit voltage I have seen as high as 90 volts, many inverters if you pull a long arc you cannot maintain a high voltage,
its a second +/- of higher voltage that quickly drops
.
thats for dab dab welding, guy welding 16ga 3/32 6013 75 amps will weld 2 or 3 seconds and stop arc, is easier if ocv is slow to go back to 90 volts,
wait 3 or more seconds and bring the hot rod close and usually arc restarts (cause of high ocv) before you actually touch, plenty of
youtube videos showing stick welding .060 and .040" thick usually square tubing (.040 thick usually easier with 5/64" rod at 55 amps)
.
old transformer welders you could pull a 1/2 to 3/4" long 6010 arc and maintain it traveling down a painted surface to warm paint up so it brushes off easier.
air carbon arc usually need 70 ocv or higher and machine that can maintain the high voltage with a long arc, 250-350amp air carbon arc can
gouge carve steel fast, noisy but fast, machine thats made for air carbon arc are usually big like 300 to 500 amps machines

[Louie1961]

AC current is much more dangerous than DC current. depending on the conditions, 120v AC from a wall socket can kill you. Its not a guaranteed death sentence by any means. When I was a paramedic, we rescued a city worker who was trying to change a light bulb in a street lamp that had a faulty ground. He took 120v across his arms (probably the most dangerous way to get hit) for at least 20 minutes before we could get the power cut and get him down. He survived but spent time in the burn unit. DC can kill you too, but it is a lot harder to get killed by DC welding current.

I have been shocked a few time when stick welding (on DC), 1-2 times by the HF starting current when TIG welding, and never while MIG welding. Generally speaking, it hurt a bit, but never injured me. If your leather welding gloves are dry and not impregnated with a bunch of metal shavings, they will protect you from the electricity of your welder. The simplest and best answer was already given. Just do not insert yourself into the welding circuit and you will be fine. You can't get shocked just by leaning on the table. You have to somehow insert yourself between the electrode and the work clamp. Most of the time I have done that was by grabbing the welding rod (stick welding) while leaning on the table, with the work lead clamped to the table.

[426hemi]

A welder isn’t going to electrocute you. It will give you a shock but that’s it. It can be quite unpleasant trying to weld in the rain/wet especially on a steel barge or boat in the water. Welding underwater can be really painful to say the least if you burn a hole in your glove or touch the work with one hand while holding the stinger in the other. Best to have someone topside to turn the machine off and on when you tell them to or tug on a line. But even in salt water it’s not going to electrocute you it’s no worse then grabbing a live 110v wire it will hurt but you’ll be fine.

[jpump5]

I think you’ll become less concerned with shock.
In welding school I was taught to always wear gloves when
changing electrodes. At some point, a long time ago, I
“unlearned “ that and have taken my gloves off to put rods
in the stinger for many years. The only times I remember
getting a shock while stick welding, I was sitting on steel
grating and sweating (creating a better ground path)
while welding overhead. Burns were more of a concern
to me than shock.

[whtbaron]

The bottom line here is that if you dislike shocks, stay dry and turn the machine off to switch rods. If you fear electrocution, stay dry and keep your tongue off the electrode.

[Lis2323]

The bottom line here is that if you dislike shocks, stay dry and turn the machine off to switch rods. If you fear electrocution, stay dry and keep your tongue off the electrode.

….but don’t expect to get paid an hourly rate.


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[Sberry]

Are we missing something here, he is asking about during weld,,,, current goes up, V goes down. It lowers the V potential once arc is struck, very same, around 30 or so maybe,,,, and is shorting to the work which is so much better path when lit than the body even soaking wet. OCV a slightly different matter. Welding circuit not connected at this point and operator can be in series with it.
Lots of pipe guys make living in wet mud holes, sat on a lot of steel welding.

[SweetMK]

The voltage is proportional to the arc length.
With a constant current stick welder, the amps are set by the user by adjusting the machine.
Then the voltage can be adjusted by varying the arc length.

Short arc length, low volts, longer arc length, higher volts.

The math is voltsXamps = watts.

Short arc length equals lower watts, longer arc length equals higher watts.

So, when you are welding, and the weld is a little too hot, shorten the arc length, that will reduce the heat (watts) generated at the weld.