Welding To Diff

[CRDSTU]

Originally Posted by Gojeep

and it is fine and the current will only run between that and the weld.

Is that true > ? never heard or read that before. (not that I doubt you go jeep !!

[murray]

hate to disagree its not a old wives tale battery needs to be disconected

as yuo run the chance of frieing the diodes in the regulator
futher more if the machine has a ecm ecu cpu you run the chance of a stray voltage spike induced by the magnetic field generated
good point on your earth i always clamp it to the piece being welded on to the main component
i have seen the results of not doing this
on large earth moving equipment
big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
if you put the current though the artic joint the trany or engine bearings

Originally Posted by Wooders

No need to disconnect the battery - that's an old wives tale.
Welding to the tube - not a problem for small brackets.
BUT if doing longer sections (eg trussing) it's important to be careful of contraction in the metal so to not bend the housing.

[stu]

i'll be stick welding, so the earth is the clamp i attach to the diff....hence its already grounded.

correct?

[Wooders]

LOL sounds like we can have a nice debate on this one
How does disconnecting the battery protect the ECU?
The current flow will be between the tip and earth point, via the path of least resistance....and this will be generally the shortest most direct path.....
If somehow the ecu got in the way - eg earth at one end of said rig and welding at the other - disconnecting the batery is not going to isolate the ecu
Disconnecting the battery protects the battery and only the battery.....and this isn't any issue unless the battery is between the earth point and the point of welding....and even then I doubt it would be.....

[iwantawrangler]

getting a bit off the point now arn't we!

[CRDSTU]

So is the point everyones trying to make ,

"Disconnecting the battery will protect your.......?"

1. Battery
2. ECU
3. Both

Nearly every exhaust shop i've EVERY seen/been to has a little device mounted between the + & - terminals on the vehicles battery.

[stu]

Originally Posted by iwantawrangler

getting a bit off the point now arn't we!

NAR...i got the information i was after.....mate, this can turn into a free-for-all for all i care.