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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971   
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Since upgrading the lighting in my workshop from dim to not dim, I've been having issues with my welding helmet being dark all the time.
I've finally had a chance to investigate this morning and it seems that it doesn't like LED lights. Go outside, it works as it should. Go in to my workshop (all LED lights), it's dark all the time. Go in to a stable with a mix of fluorescent and LED and it's open (letting light through) when looking directly at a fluorescent tube add you'd expect, but as soon as you turn a bit and it gets a hint of one if the LED fittings it instantly darkens. Had anyone else experienced this? How did you fix it? Are there helmets that don't have issues with LEDs? Thanks in advance  |
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9th Feb 2019 10:17am |
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| grafty99 Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: North Devon Posts: 4785 
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I can't say I have that problem in our workshop (LED battons replacing fluorescent light fittings)
The only thing I can think of is that the leds haven't got smoothing circuitry so are flickering at 50hz and therefore fooling the helmet into thinking there's an arc? 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon 1990 Vogue SE Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton |
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9th Feb 2019 2:08pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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It was the flickering that I was thinking off. not sure how to fix that!
I can weld under torch light, and they're just as intense so I doubt it's an issue with LEDs as such. It also works fine outside and the sun is much more intense than my lights! Hmm... irritating. |
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9th Feb 2019 6:52pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17414 
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I think Grafty is right, it will be some wierd effect caused by the PWM of the LED drivers fooling the helmet, or possibly some frequency component of the emitted spectrum. Probably all you can do is change the helmet (or lights) and try a different combination.
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9th Feb 2019 8:56pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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It's looking like that's the case.
Anyone got a recommendation for a decent helmet?  |
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10th Feb 2019 9:48pm |
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| Intercept Member Since: 27 Feb 2017 Location: Suffolk Posts: 587 
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White LEDs are typically yellow or ultraviolet LEDs with a phosphor that fluoresces white. It may be that your LED lighting has enough intensity at the right wavelength to trigger the helmet's filter. Welding arc contains loads of high energy UV so that'd normally be what provides most of the power to the welding helmet's solar panel that drives the LCD darkening filter. Try putting a red filter over the helmet's solar panel to reduce the sensitivity.
I've got Osram LED tubes in my workshop's old fluorescent fittings and these don't cause my Sealey welding helmet to darken. |
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11th Feb 2019 10:35am |
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| grafty99 Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: North Devon Posts: 4785
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Our workshop has all led lighting (replacement fittings rather than retrofit lamps) and we use a britarc helmet
 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton |
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11th Feb 2019 11:10am |
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