Speedglas 100 keeps flashing me

[Aquaticbob]

Just got a speedglas 100, and other than the fact that it keeps flashing me real bad after I let it sit for like 5 minutes, I like it. I'm just starting to TIG weld so I'm getting a little tired of being flashed real bad, and then having to wait for the spot to go away so I can get back to it.

I'm TIGing at 65 amps, and after I let the helmet sit for 5 minutes, I put it on and I arc and it flashes me. I don't have a low battery indicator, and I've made sure the batteries are fine. After the first arc, I'll arc up again and I'm good to go, no flashes. I've got it set to highest sensitivity, shade 11, and quickest auto darken. Any tips?

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah, stop! Until you figure it out! How long has this been happening? Just today? Have you slept yet?

 

[Aquaticbob]

It's just today, I just got the helmet like 7 hours ago. I've been flashed 3 times now, I'm done for the day. My head hurt pretty bad after the first one, the last couple weren't nearly as bad

 

[MagnumForce]

If it's brand new then contact where you bought it. Speedglass is better than that.

 

[sqznby]

Does it turn off instantly when you stop welding?
If so, it could be your delay setting.
Try to set it for a second or two instead of instant.

 

[Aquaticbob]

Does it turn off instantly when you stop welding?
If so, it could be your delay setting.
Try to set it for a second or two instead of instant.

Stays on for a second or so after the weld. Pretty much until the tungsten isn't glowing. It isn't instantaneous though, just not sure how many seconds

 

[sqznby]

Stays on for a second or so after the weld. Pretty much until the tungsten isn't glowing. It isn't instantaneous though, just not sure how many seconds

That should be long enough.
Hmm, I wonder.
Is it new or used?
Did you let it sit in the sunlight for a sufficient amount of time before use?

 

[Aquaticbob]

That should be long enough.
Hmm, I wonder.
Is it new or used?
Did you let it sit in the sunlight for a sufficient amount of time before use?

Brand new helmet. Where I live we don't get sunlight until June (see Seattle under location). I made sure batteries were good, no low battery. It's weird to me that it only does it on the first arc after sitting, then it's fine after that.

 

[laser3kw]

kind of an obtuse though, is there any protective film, that is meant to protect the lens during shipping, over the lens / sensor area that can be / should be peeled off?

 

[Aquaticbob]

kind of an obtuse though, is there any protective film, that is meant to protect the lens during shipping, over the lens / sensor area that can be / should be peeled off?

Everything is all peeled off, double and triple checked that

 

[sqznby]

Brand new helmet. Where I live we don't get sunlight until June (see Seattle under location). I made sure batteries were good, no low battery. It's weird to me that it only does it on the first arc after sitting, then it's fine after that.

Haha, gatcha on your location. At least its not Alaska .
Arc time would also be a sufficient source to power it up.
Grab an extra set of batteries as a back up and try them out.
Our shop bought a bunch of Miller batteries, some of which were bad.
It is weird.
Last resort would be to contact the store you purchased it from and explain what's happening. They should be able to help you out or replace it with a new one.

 

[laser3kw]

To cover all bases - have you tried every step in the manual?

Speedglas_100_TDS.pdf

 

[Aquaticbob]

To cover all bases - have you tried every step in the manual?

Speedglas_100_TDS.pdf

Yep, always click the on button. I think I'm going to return it after the holidays. I am going to need to go back to the welding supply store anyway, might as well swap it out.

 

[bullnerd]

I use a Lincoln and it triggers just holding it up to a shop light.

If you got flashed good enough, you might be in for a surprise after you sleep for a bit, hopefully not because its pretty annoying.

Good luck and keep us posted, sounds like you covered all the possibilities besides returning it.

 

[laser3kw]

the "sens" button set to "3"?
momentarily press once, shows setting: press repeatedly to cycle through settings until the led shows #3?
yup - you may have to return it. Most the time they will swap out the lens cartridge.

 

[Aquaticbob]

If you got flashed good enough, you might be in for a surprise after you sleep for a bit, hopefully not because its pretty annoying.

Explain lol. I've never been flashed welding until today. I've used the cheapy harbor freight helmet for Mig welding for a year now. The sensitivity is set to 3, I think it's replacement time

 

[sqznby]

Explain lol. I've never been flashed welding until today. I've used the cheapy harbor freight helmet for Mig welding for a year now. The sensitivity is set to 3, I think it's replacement time

Its going to feel like you have sand in your eyes. Not fun, depending on how bad you were flashed it could last a few hours or the whole night.

 

[Aquaticbob]

Its going to feel like you have sand in your eyes. Not fun, depending on how bad you were flashed it could last a few hours or the whole night.

My right eye already feels a bit itchy or dry. I'm not too concerned about it, I'll live through it. Just want to get the issue fixed

 

[sqznby]

It may get worse through the night but, its tolerable.
A new speedglass should not have these issues.
Update this thread after you speak with the store.
Good luck and happy holidays

 

[Aquaticbob]

It may get worse through the night but, its tolerable.
A new speedglass should not have these issues.
Update this thread after you speak with the store.
Good luck and happy holidays

Happy Holidays to you as well!

I will make sure to update, as well as to show my slowly improving TIG skills. I'm sure it helps that I can MIG decently, and understand how it works

 

[BigMike782]

If you bought it at a brick and mortar store I would take it back and have them change the batteries and if that does not work have them replace it under warranty.
The manual says it is TIG rated......the older "utility" model wasn't.

 

[MagnumForce]

Return the thing, it is defective simple as that. Don't bother with warranty rigmarole.

I did production welding for years with cheaper helmets than that striking 1000's of arcs a day 6 days a week, and never had an issue.

 

[Aquaticbob]

Well the sand feeling in the eyes has happened, not really the best feeling, but I'll live. If the store is open on Saturday I'll be going in to swap the hood out. Not so happy about getting flashed by the expensive hood, meanwhile my harbor freight one has never done that to me

 

[plinker]

I have had it where I'm too close to waht I'm welding or have the helmet at an odd angle where the sensor wont pick up.

 

[sqznby]

Well the sand feeling in the eyes has happened, not really the best feeling, but I'll live. If the store is open on Saturday I'll be going in to swap the hood out. Not so happy about getting flashed by the expensive hood, meanwhile my harbor freight one has never done that to me

No, its not a fun experience at all. Every weldor has had a good flash in there career, its just like getting burned. Its going to happen.
Its very upsetting about your hat though, especially being a speedglass. Those HF will surprise you.

 

[MP&C]

What TIG are you using? Mine with the pulse feature was doing the same to me, I guess it detected the pulse as a shut down.. I picked up a Miller Digital elite a few months back and haven't had the problem since..

 

[MagnumForce]

I use a metal man, better than hf and around 80 bucks. It has been a great helmet lasting me 5 years in daily service and a couple of those as a production welder with the thing on for 8-10 hours a day. The plastic is just so jenky on those hf helmets.

In my welding career the only times I have gotten flashed is while tacking without a helmet on.

I had a Northern Industrial helmet before the metal man and it didn't last well.

 

[Aquaticbob]

What TIG are you using? Mine with the pulse feature was doing the same to me, I guess it detected the pulse as a shut down.. I picked up a Miller Digital elite a few months back and haven't had the problem since..

Everlast 185. No pulse function and I wasn't pulsing with a pedal. I think I'm gonna swap helmets, see how that goes. If it happens again I'm going to get a different one

 

[lametec]

Even if the helmet doesn't darken, it should protect your eyes from the UV light. If you've got grainy eyes, I'd look for light leaking in around the helmet.

 

[Zeke]

You should be on No. 3 sensitivity.

I switched over to a Jackson Smart TIG'r for this very reason.

 

[Aquaticbob]

You should be on No. 3 sensitivity.



I switched over to a Jackson Smart TIG'r for this very reason.

If this next one is no good I think I'll go that way. I think the speedglas sits a little farther from my face than I would like

 

[gungatim]

Its going to feel like you have sand in your eyes. Not fun, depending on how bad you were flashed it could last a few hours or the whole night.

no, it's not. you can't get flashed from an autodarkening helmet, even if it fails completely. it is made from something called "bandpass" glass, laminated with LCD panels in between. I should know, I worked for the company that invented it. The bandpass glass filters out the harmful rays, even though you see light, it will not have the harmful effects.

 

[Zeke]

no, it's not. you can't get flashed from an autodarkening helmet, even if it fails completely. it is made from something called "bandpass" glass, laminated with LCD panels in between. I should know, I worked for the company that invented it. The bandpass glass filters out the harmful rays, even though you see light, it will not have the harmful effects.

I don't care if you sit in front of a TIG arc all day to prove your point, getting flashed by a TIG arc is no fun and it does leave you with limited vision. I have an older Speedglas and there are 2 darkness scales inside on the controls. You have to put the dial on the red numbers for TIG or it flashes you. I wasn't too bright and didn't understand what the red scale was for, It was right there in the manual but not too prevalent. Nevertheless, it was there for me to read.

Meanwhile, while attempting tacks on SS, I got continually flashed. After about 3 times I had to quit for the day. Couldn't see what I was doing. No 'scratchiness' in the eyes, but getting flashed does something and it can't be good for your eyes.

 

[gungatim]

no scratchiness because you didn't get Ultraviolet Keratitis. yes, the bright flash will be painful and what not, but the lense, even if it doesn't darken, always filters out the UV. THis is a safety feature that all ADF lenses use...most people don't realize that and the mfgr's are not good about explaining it. We had to educate weldor's almost daily how they work and what settings to use, etc...that speedglass may have a defective sensor in it, it happens...

 

[angrystroker]

It's just today, I just got the helmet like 7 hours ago. I've been flashed 3 times now, I'm done for the day. My head hurt pretty bad after the first one, the last couple weren't nearly as bad

Take it back, get the Miller Digital elite, it has an auto on setting. I flashed myself a few times with the Speedglas. I would always forget to turn it on. Get gloved up and over the work, stop drop back and turn on the hood.

With the Miller you get it home turn on the auto on/off. Put the hood aside, after that you just pick it up and weld away, really a very nice deal.

That one feature alone is worth the extra cost, even better is the view area and head gear.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Should have total UV protection without the lens darkening at all. At least that is how I read the instructions that came with my Speedglass. Should not have any eye damage from the lens not darkening, but you do need to take it back it sounds like.

 

[binder man]

Jackson nexgen here with zero complaints, 4 sensor hood, I like the shape of speedglas, but dollar for dollar I couldnt touch a 4 sensor speedglas for what I have in my jackson