TIG Welder Trips GFCI

[zeebad1]

I just brought a TIG welder home on Friday, and got it set up & running yesterday.

I have some 110 outlets, permanently wired up on the welding table, and as soon as I start an arc with the TIG, it trips the GFCI that controls those outlets.

I haven't asked anyone else yet, and thought I would throw this out here.
Is this going to be the "nature of the beast" with a TIG welder, or do I have some stray voltage, that I had better get cornered?

This particular GFCI has never tripped before, so I don't think that it's the problem. I've MIG welded, and run the plasma cutter on the same table, and have never had any issues.

Please let me know if there's something I need to look for.


TIA.

 

[Micscience]

I'm no expert but maybe the receptacle is arcing at the connection on the hot or the neutral and tripping the gfci because of to much exposed wire on the connection? just a thought.

 

[alton]

Check the amp rating of the GFCI. Most are only rated at 15 amps. TIG amps?

 

[Kevin C]

Depending on the arc start method your welder uses, TIG can have a lot more RF or a different RF spectrum than regular arc welding. My guess would be that its messing with the circuitry of the GFI.

 

[lametec]

Check the point gap on the welder. This assuming it has HF start, of course.

The larger the gap, the more RF noise the welder emits. There's a reason the manual for HF start TIG welders tells you to keep it far away from any other electronics.

 

[zeebad1]

Depending on the arc start method your welder uses, TIG can have a lot more RF or a different RF spectrum than regular arc welding. My guess would be that its messing with the circuitry of the GFI.

Check the point gap on the welder. This assuming it has HF start, of course.

The larger the gap, the more RF noise the welder emits. There's a reason the manual for HF start TIG welders tells you to keep it far away from any other electronics.

I was wondering if it wasn't something like this!! So now I need to read the book too!!! Is it sad that I'm not even sure what kind of "start" my welder has. It's a Miller Synchrowave 250 DX, and has 3 different options.

I played with it quite a bit yesterday, with my work set up on sawhorses & a piece of OSB, and the GFCI never tripped.

Even though I would like to do all of the welding on my welding table, it's not that much of an inconvenience to stay away from it.

Thanks for the help.

 

[madosta]

I was wondering if it wasn't something like this!! So now I need to read the book too!!! Is it sad that I'm not even sure what kind of "start" my welder has. It's a Miller Synchrowave 250 DX, and has 3 different options.

I played with it quite a bit yesterday, with my work set up on sawhorses & a piece of OSB, and the GFCI never tripped.

Even though I would like to do all of the welding on my welding table, it's not that much of an inconvenience to stay away from it.

Thanks for the help.

I originally thought you were plugging your TIG into the 20amp GFCI. Thought "what kind of TIG is this?"

I think your welder is bad. Bring it to Michigan - I will meet you in Kalamazoo and we can transfer it from your vehicle to my vehicle.

Is your welding table grounded? Read your manual...

 

[lametec]

Check out page 59 and 60 of the manual:

http://www.millerwelds.com/om/o363ap_mil.pdf