Is it necessary to disconnect the battery? Will there be a chance of shorting something if you don't or is that a bunch of b.s. I have heard conflicting opinions on this and want to hear yours.

 

I've never disconnect the battery on any vehicle i've welded on and never had a problem but maybe everyone i work with and i are just really lucky.

 

When I weld on my truck I always disconnect the terminals. Why not? Doesn't take long. At work when the company trucks are welded on, the battery is never disconnected and we've never had an issue after 4 years of working there.

 

Yeah its probably not a bad idea but i wouldn't say its an absolute must.

 

I always do. Not sure if it's necessary but that's what I've always been told to do.

 

If you make sure that you're ground lead is very close to the area where you are welding, you should be ok.

 

Always a good idea to. Also, make sure ground lead is near your weld. If its far away, you can actually weld your hinges together (getting arcs across the gap). it can happen.

 

Wasn't this question asked quite a while ago? And weren't you the one that asked it?

 

no, it might have been asked i didn't search uh oh better get out my flame suit.

 

I just remember this same question being asked by somebody with a super small avatar, lol.

No flaming from me.

 

I was told by my welding instructor never to weld on a vehicle with a battery connected. Something about it over exciting the cells in the battery and can cause the battery to blow. So I ALWAYS disconnect my battery.

 

This is true, welding on our old tractor PTO we weren't thinking, forgot to relocate the ground and seized two bearings in the PTO case.

Regardless, I always disconnect, even if it is a myth, why risk frying your PCM, radio and countless other sensitive electronics when the precautionary only takes a couple seconds.

 

I had an 04 audi a4, and had a big stereo in it. I competed with it so I needed some extra support in the trunk lid to hold dynomat. So I went to welding in some braces without disconnecting the battery. About 3 minutes after I finished, I heard some cracking. Then an explosion. It was my back glass. The welder had shorted out my rear window defroster and caused it to superheat and explode my window. true story! disconnect the battery!

 

Disconnect it! its cheap insurance and only takes like 5 mnutes

 

I've disconnected mine each time, why risk it?

 

In this case i don't see how disconnecting the battery would help. Maybe if you disconnected the defroster...

 

Defrosters dont work without power. I never disconnect the battery and have welded the bumper brackers and my hitch to the frame.

 

Good for you man. Guess you just haven't had your time of learning then. It'll happen one day. Keep it up.

It takes how long to unhook the battery? 30 seconds? is 30 extra seconds worth keeping your truck the way it is now? I should think so.

 

I disconnect the battery if I am using stick, MIG, or TIG, but there is no need if you are using gas welding.

 

Not likely you're gonna use oxy-acetylene on our trucks though lol

 

you're right, oxy-acetylene is not likely, but I have been using it quite a lot on my Ram to fix an exhaust problem. Overhead welding is a *****!

 

for me depends on the project...

SAS, im gonna take the battery out.

sliders, I am leaving it hooked up. if it fries something so be it, ill just fix it and move on.

 

I pulled the battery out whenever I did any welding on my truck.

Hell, I pulled the whole motor out!

 

I usually do unhook the battery as that's just what I have always been told to do. I had no problems the times that I didn't though.

 

Well I needed some emergency welding on the trailer today. 4 of my ramp gate cross members had broken the welds and made loading/unloading stuff dangerous. I stick welded everything back together with the trailer attached to the truck. The wiring harness was detached but the battery was left attached. No issues.

Guess it's just a good safety habit to disconnect the battery, even though it's not necessary.