Stick welder shocking me on DCEP

[Tally ZJ]

While doing that car hauler axle install I used 7018 rod on DCEP as specified by the Miller calculator.

I got the crapped knocked out of me every time I touched the metal or held the ground clamp. Even through gloves and standing on my feet with rubber sole boots.

I was wet with sweat and my gloves were also damp but I wasn't grounded was I?

Anyway, I changed over to DCEN and it never shocked me again. I also noticed the rod ran better on DCEN than it did on DCEP

What the heck was happening? I don't usually get shocked and as hot as it is here I am usually always wet with sweat.

[milomilo]

7018 is always better on electrode negative.

[Tally ZJ]

Originally Posted by milomilo

7018 is always better on electrode negative.

Well someone oughtta tell Miller that! I thought their calculators were pretty good as a general guide but they don't even suggest 7018 can be ran well on DCEN.

[milomilo]

Kind of sounds like bacon sizzling on DCEN. Slag comes off easier too.

[Tally ZJ]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Kind of sounds like bacon sizzling on DCEN. Slag comes off easier too.

Sure does. Arc is much smoother and the puddle easier to define. Slag definitely comes off easier. I had to pound that crap off on DCEP.

Anyway, my actual post reason was to figure out why I got shocked on DCEP and not on DCEN? Does it have to do with the flow of the voltage?

[Shade Tree Welder]

Originally Posted by milomilo

7018 is always better on electrode negative.

Originally Posted by milomilo

Kind of sounds like bacon sizzling on DCEN. Slag comes off easier too.

And the added benefit of no penetration.

[USMCPOP]

I can't even guess why DCEN would not shock you when DCEP did. Strange.

I always wondered why my old Lincoln book listed 7018 as an AC (primarily) or DCEN rod, no mention of DCEP.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by Shade Tree Welder

And the added benefit of no penetration.

But...I've always used that for vertical downhand

[S1MPLEY_S1MPLE]

Originally Posted by Tally ZJ

Well someone oughtta tell Miller that! I thought their calculators were pretty good as a general guide but they don't even suggest 7018 can be ran well on DCEN.

DCEN is for less penetration if you wanted it for cosmetics or a cap. DCEP is for penetration that's why the run differently just throwing that out there

Sent from my iPhone using SFT

[Wolfram]

Did you ever figure out why it was shocking you?

Any chance this is a TIG welder and something is whacked with the HF start circuitry?