it takes five minutes to disconnect battery cables. better safe than sorry. probably done quicker that it took to type this post.

 

I'm with smokin isb on this. Pulling the battery cables just keeps it from running in the battery. Everything on the truck is still grounded and if it will run thru it will battery cable or not.

 

As long as your ground clamp is right close to what you are welding you will be fine because the current dosent have that far to travel, When doing long welding projects I would disconnecting the battery cables.


Nick.

 

I worked @ an exhaust shop for a few years, we welded on 10-12 cars/trucks a day, and never once disconnected a battery cable so............?????? Just stay away from motorhome insulation and fuel leaks

 

Pulling the battery grounds does nothing except isolate the battery from the welder. The ECM and PCM is still connected to ground. The only way to truly isolate them from ground is to remove them from the truck.

 

Also make sure you are getting a good clean connection with the ground cable from the welder. Current follows the easiest and quickest path, and as long as the gound is near the current source it will not stray. It's just like when you work on an electrical box or something high voltage, always keep one hand off of the work when openening the box, that way if you get shocked the current goes through your arm and out your foot, and not as likely to cross your heart. Our trucks are the same way except the heart is the computer.