Dissapointed with my Miller welding helmet

[ForceFed70]

It's their basic auto-darkening model, about 4 years old.

I'm seeing purple and green streaks again this morning because the damn thing didn't darken again.

Who makes a solar powered helmet that still needs batteries to work? Or a helmet that kills those batteries after 3 months even when not used. I don't use the welder all that often and it need to replace the batteries every 2nd time. Batteries that are a PITA to change at that!

Am I doing something wrong here? I could see this being OK for a pro who uses his welder on a daily basis. But super annoying for the hobbyist who only busts out the welder once a month if that. I was unable to find any sort of "off" switch. I've tried storing the helmet so that the solar panel receives light - no difference.

 

[Craptain]

It's their basic auto-darkening model, about 4 years old.

I'm seeing purple and green streaks again this morning because the damn thing didn't darken again.

Who makes a solar powered helmet that still needs batteries to work? Or a helmet that kills those batteries after 3 months even when not used. I don't use the welder all that often and it need to replace the batteries every 2nd time. Batteries that are a PITA to change at that!

Am I doing something wrong here? I could see this being OK for a pro who uses his welder on a daily basis. But super annoying for the hobbyist who only busts out the welder once a month if that. I was unable to find any sort of "off" switch. I've tried storing the helmet so that the solar panel receives light - no difference.

Don't really have an answer for you but never had that issue with my HF helmet. I don't weld often but generally check it out with a fluorescent light first. In fact I generally leave it sitting in fluorescent light or sunlight while I prep everything. That seems to work for me.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[crewchief888]

i have 2 miller prohobby AD hoods.

one is at least 6 years old, i think ive replaced the batteries 1 time, the other is 4 years old, and has had the batteries replaced one time.


i had an inexpensive solar only (no batteries) hood for 11 years...
it was great until it decided to stop working. the info i found on the AD lens said it had a 10year life span...

 

[McFarmer]

I place the selector to "grind" before putting it away, never a battery problem since.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Don't have one, but would like one, so I am reading what to do and what not to do. Thanks for the info.

 

[04chase]

i had one of my miller helmets do this as well. It still works though but it my back up at work. I have a 3m speedglas at home now. much nicer viewing area though a bit heavier.

 

[gearhead1]

Don't really have an answer for you but never had that issue with my HF helmet. I don't weld often but generally check it out with a fluorescent light first. In fact I generally leave it sitting in fluorescent light or sunlight while I prep everything. That seems to work for me.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

+1. I also have the HF one and let it 'charge' while I get everything ready. Never had a problem after years of use.

 

[maybe smith]

I've had my HF hood for about 12 years, never changed batteries. I just used it within the last few days for some projects works great.

 

[Jazz1]

Not likely a Miller thing,,,sounds more like you just got a lemon. I have Speedglas that uses batteries although I have never changed. Also have a Praxair all solar that finally gave up the ghost after 15 years. Replaced the lens with a eBay 12 shade solar lens for $10.

 

[MP&C]

It's their basic auto-darkening model, about 4 years old.

I'm seeing purple and green streaks again this morning because the damn thing didn't darken again.

Who makes a solar powered helmet that still needs batteries to work? Or a helmet that kills those batteries after 3 months even when not used. I don't use the welder all that often and it need to replace the batteries every 2nd time. Batteries that are a PITA to change at that!

Am I doing something wrong here? I could see this being OK for a pro who uses his welder on a daily basis. But super annoying for the hobbyist who only busts out the welder once a month if that. I was unable to find any sort of "off" switch. I've tried storing the helmet so that the solar panel receives light - no difference.

Have you replaced the batteries, and what brand/where did you get them from?

 

[rixtrix1]

Mine is a Miller Elite Big Window and I've had to replace the batteries twice in 8 years. I don't know if the solar cells along the top are there to charge the unit while in use or just to trigger it to darken. I use it at least 2 hours a week.I agree the batteries are a PITA to change and the battery holders are directional,i.e. there is a right and a left on mine.

 

[LXCam]

My miller eats batteries too just sitting there. So it's become habit to remove them if I'm not welding for consecutive days.

 

[fourjeepin]

I used an auto darkening helmet when learning to weld then switched to a regular one. It took a while to get used to, but hasn't been an issue. Better than getting flashed

 

[MikeF]

I have a digital infinity and haven't had any battery issues. Any reason not to get that standard passive lens style? If you don't use it that much that is.

 

[kazlx]

Speedglas. My 9100XX has been flawless for years.

 

[koditten]

Another Miller Elite owner here. I've had to change batteries a few times.

I never really gave it a thought as being excessive. Going by memory here, but I think Miller claims it changes from clear to shaded in 1/50,000 of a second. I think my HF unit claimed to do it in 1/35,000 of a second. I just figured that the price for a quicker shade change was the cost of battery consumption.

I do know that with large amounts of welding, I would get welding flash headaches using the HF unit. I don't notice it with the ME unit.

Neither lens is faster than the speed of light, but the difference was worth it to not have headaches after welding all day.

 

[BigMike782]

All auto darkening filters have battery/batteries. Some are sealed in and some are replaceable.
You don't say exactly which Miller helmet you have but I am not aware of any of the latest digitals that do not have auto on/off.
I had a non-digital Elite that had auto off but manual on.
Miller recommends using either Miller packaged batteries(Panasonic) or Panasonic batteries because of the varying side shoulder height dimensions.....not they are not all the same

 

[BD1]

All auto darkening filters have battery/batteries. Some are sealed in and some are replaceable.
You don't say exactly which Miller helmet you have but I am not aware of any of the latest digitals that do not have auto on/off.
I had a non-digital Elite that had auto off but manual on.
Miller recommends using either Miller packaged batteries(Panasonic) or Panasonic batteries because of the varying side shoulder height dimensions.....not they are not all the same

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mine is a first generation Miller Elite and I read about this before I needed battery replacement. I bought as specifeid and no issues.

 

[pepi]

Not only does the Elite have Auto on/off, it also has a setting that causes the window to darken with the flash of the arc. Is very handy if facing the sun or in a brightly lit shop.

Greg

 

[Thumper68]

That is ,one of the reasons I got the Jackson Safety True Sight II.

It takes 2 AAA batteries, no PITA button batteries, between cutting grinding and welding I have a few hundred hours on it now and have flashed myself once because I forgot to turn it on.

First impressions video here

 

[Contract_Pilot]

I have a Viking 3350 lens in my hood now it sat for over a year in the open and bat was Good to go for about 6 hours of welding but was original Energizer bat from purchase 3-4 years prior. I had a Miller Digital Classic Series it chewed thru bats every few months the issue was resolved by Storing the hood in the bag or in a Dark Enclosed area.

Walmart has The Energizer 2450 bats on sale this time of year for about 1.00-1.50ea 8 year shelf life so just buy a dozen.

If working at a shop/home business change bat per OSHA Rules I think every 6 months regardless of use and the money on PPG upkeep is tax deductible.

 

[Superbec]

Not only does the Elite have Auto on/off,
Greg

not the first model of DE , it only has auto off and manual ON ... that can piss you off after a lunch break

 

[matt01073]

I had a Speed Glass for many years and loved it , it finally gave out and the local welding shop sold me one of the better miller helmets about 3 years ago. I dont like it nearly as well as the speedglass ,not that it dosent work but it tends to darken with even the shop lighting to the point of it may s well be a regular helmet . I would have expected the new product to be much better than the 15 year old one however it dosent seem to be,to the point I wish it would break so I can justify a new speedglass.

 

[pepi]

I had a Speed Glass for many years and loved it , it finally gave out and the local welding shop sold me one of the better miller helmets about 3 years ago. I dont like it nearly as well as the speedglass ,not that it dosent work but it tends to darken with even the shop lighting to the point of it may s well be a regular helmet . I would have expected the new product to be much better than the 15 year old one however it dosent seem to be,to the point I wish it would break so I can justify a new speedglass.

Was a Speedglas owner, liked the SG but hated the manual on. The auto on function alone of the Miller sold me. Then discovered exactly what you posted.

If you have the Elite it has a setting: the X mode, forces the window to only darken with the flash of the arc. Very handy if facing the sun or in a brightly lit shop.

Hope this will helps, I know how frustrating that is, BUT Miller has it handled as usual .

not the first model of DE , it only has auto off and manual ON ... that can piss you off after a lunch break

So did you change or upgrade to a better more advanced hood?.. Less stress?

Greg

 

[Superbec]

If you have the Elite it has a setting: the X mode, forces the window to only darken with the flash of the arc. Very handy if facing the sun or in a brightly lit shop.




So did you change or upgrade to a better more advanced hood?.. Less stress?

Greg

x-mode with mine sense some magic mambo jambo (electromagnetic field generated by the welding machine) and it's said to darken BEFORE the arc is struck .

It seems to actually work as I had hundreds of welding hours without headache after I got the DE.

I didn't upgrade , I quit welding a few years ago , now I use a pipeliner with a 10 gold shade when I need to weld, think I used the DE last year when the pipeliner had too many spiders inside ...

 

[BigMike782]

I had a Speed Glass for many years and loved it , it finally gave out and the local welding shop sold me one of the better miller helmets about 3 years ago. I dont like it nearly as well as the speedglass ,not that it dosent work but it tends to darken with even the shop lighting to the point of it may s well be a regular helmet . I would have expected the new product to be much better than the 15 year old one however it dosent seem to be,to the point I wish it would break so I can justify a new speedglass.

You should be able to adjust sensitivity to fix that.

 

[71goldss]

Forget about the battery! I have the Digital Performance and want to know how to work those pull strings on that Miller storage bag that came with it!

 

[koditten]

Forget about the battery! I have the Digital Performance and want to know how to work those pull strings on that Miller storage bag that came with it!

Bwahahaha!

I never understood that storage bag thing either!

I always thought it was to turn it into a mini back pack. Imagining that , it reminded me of school girls hauling their books to school. No one was going to ever see me hauling my hood in that ridiculous bag in that manner!

 

[pepi]

x-mode with mine sense some magic mambo jambo (electromagnetic field generated by the welding machine) and it's said to darken BEFORE the arc is struck .

It seems to actually work as I had hundreds of welding hours without headache after I got the DE.

I didn't upgrade , I quit welding a few years ago , now I use a pipeliner with a 10 gold shade when I need to weld, think I used the DE last year when the pipeliner had too many spiders inside ...

You'er correct with that statement, used the word arc an easy how it happens.

Not ever had a stop watch on it to record the time lag of trigger, and the actual arc flash, I'll take folks word for it the xmode solved my problem.

Greg

 

[Heel2toe]

I purchased a Lincoln 3350 helmet and went to use it for the first time yesterday and the friggin thing kept turning off on me mid weld. I wasn't sure if I had the setting wrong but no matter what I tried I kept getting blinded. Thankfully Ill be getting a replacement lens and hope that does the trick.

If not then Ill be in the market for a different helmet and I have no idea what else I'd get around that price point. Id really like the 3350 to pan out as I love the large viewing area.

Just a little annoyed that after all these years of trouble free use with the HF unit and my fancy new helmet gives me grief.

 

[BigMike782]

https://www.google.com/#q=weldcote+welding+helmet

Way under rated helmet from where I stand.
I used one and was very surprised.

 

[Heel2toe]

^What do you like about it? I purchased the Lincoln because it had great reviews and seemed to offer the largest screen and is supposed to be quite nice from a color/ brightness perspective.

Im really hoping the replacement lens is all that I need. But if its still giving me issues that I'll need to find something else unfortunately. Its gotta be the lens however as there is no way I somehow screwed the thing up mid weld. I was thinking if I blocked the sensor it would thing the welding is done but I thought that was the whole point in having multiple sensors.

 

[BigMike782]

It has all the stuff most people want, good viewing area, sensitivity, delay, decent head gear in the price range of the usually crappy helmets.

 

[Superbec]

So ... you guys made me remember my DE ... so I found it in the back storage ... moldi and with dead batteries, went out and got 2 bateries .... damn thing would light up .

I went in the house and read some about DE problems, nothing helpfull , somebull about smaller batteries .. nah, I measured with a digital caliper ., measured voltage all ok .

so I started pushing all the buttons like a massaging motion damn thing started BUT only the ON button worked ,a few minutes of pushing the other buttons and they started to work one by one , now helmet works fine .

I love the X-mode !

Even found the protective screens and changed those too ... wow I can almost see what I'm doing ... just kidding, I can weld with my eyes closed.

 

[pepi]

So ... you guys made me remember my DE ... so I found it in the back storage ... moldi and with dead batteries, went out and got 2 bateries .... damn thing would light up .

I went in the house and read some about DE problems, nothing helpfull , somebull about smaller batteries .. nah, I measured with a digital caliper ., measured voltage all ok .

so I started pushing all the buttons like a massaging motion damn thing started BUT only the ON button worked ,a few minutes of pushing the other buttons and they started to work one by one , now helmet works fine .

I love the X-mode !

Even found the protective screens and changed those too ... wow I can almost see what I'm doing ... just kidding, I can weld with my eyes closed.

LMAO !!! cool man it is a **** hood, weld on

Greg