Hello all
Yup it's pouring with rain and there's an emergency welding job which has to be done...
Does it help to have a return lead with two clamps
- one attached securely to the structure (in this case the barge you are on) before you turn on the generator / welding-machine
- the other the clamp you attach to the workpiece
The reason would be to avoid being electrocuted all the time as you try to move the return / "earth" clamp.
Surely if there is a permanent attachment of the return clamp to the barge, the "moveable" return-clamp would always be at the potential of the barge and you couldn't get shocked when you transfer your working return-clamp?
So that both the "new" piece of metal and the "existing structure" are both tied to "ground" potential and you don't have to be careful about which side you strike-up on in avoiding getting shocked. Because the "free" / "floating" return clamp can be put on the "new" part.
Have I got this right?
Would you make-up a short length of cable between male and female "bayonet" connectors, with a juntion in the short length branching-off to the clamp you attach to the main structure for the duration the generator is on?
Thinking is - you could split any pair of bayonet connectors in your welding cable run where there is a good place to attach to the barge / structure, and insert this fitment and get that good enduring earthing attachment.
???
Thanks in advance, Rich S