Arc welding on a Seneca

[Sam]

I plan to add to add three metal cross supports to the underneath of my fresh water tank. Some of you have already done this by tack welding the ends of the metal support pieces to the frame. What precautions did you take before welding to prevent any possible damage to the units electronics?

I have done some research on line and some welders advise to disconnect the ground to the batteries and some say don't disconnect the ground cables. They all advise to position the welding clamp ground as close as possible to the location that is being welded, and also on the material being welded. I am not doing the welding myself, a friend that owns a repair and restoration shop is doing the welding. I will add, the welding consists of six small tack, one on each end of the three new metal supports. This is to keep the new supports in position. I hope my explanation of what I want to do is clear.

Thanks for any advise you may have. Sam

[merlinhomeauto]

I always disconnect battery when welding on any trailer or vehicles.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by merlinhomeauto

I always disconnect battery when welding on any trailer or vehicles.

X2. That is what I have always done

[BigJohnD]

X3 here on disconnecting battery.

[Mark S]

I am thinking you would have to disconnect both the chassis and house batteries. I've never even seen the chassis batteries.

[JimL]

Why weld? What about using a beam clamp (with locknuts of course) and then unistrut as your supporting cross members.


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[repacs0103]

Why arc weld is the better question. Welding is infinitely stronger. When arc welding, which I haven’t done in years, I always unhook battery ground. Honestly when mig welding though, I get lazy and rarely do. Hundreds of weld jobs later and no computers have been fried. Better safe than sorry, but in my experience it’s overkill.


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[RayBo]

X4 Never weld anything on any machine/vehicle/fixture/device that uses a frame ground for installed batteries. Always disconnect. A lead-acid battery blowing up is something that can wreck your day. Batteries produce hydrogen when charging. Hydrogen is easily ignited. Welding produces an ignition source. Hydrogen + Ignition can = Hospital + Fire Department.