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lrjohn

Active Member

• Apr 16, 2020

• #1

I'm about to weld on (MIGwelder) a new crossmember to my Defender TD5 and I've been trying to find some definitive words on what should be done to protect the electrics. Seems there is quite a lot of different opinions on various forums about whether the battery, alternator and ECU should be disconnected.

I seem to remember long time ago that it was generally thought alternators should be disconnected to protect their electronics but as I say the opinions are totally mixed.

I'm hoping there may be someone on the forum who does chassis welding professionally and can advise from their professional experience, and of course anyone else who wants to comment.

Thanks in advance

 

bankz5152

Well-Known Member

• Apr 16, 2020

• #2

Ecu and battery.

Should be fine.

 

RangeRoller dt

Well-Sprung Member

• Apr 16, 2020

• #3

Fire extinguisher

 

Bantam1

Well-Known Member

• Apr 16, 2020

• #4

lrjohn said:

I'm about to weld on (MIGwelder) a new crossmember to my Defender TD5 and I've been trying to find some definitive words on what should be done to protect the electrics. Seems there is quite a lot of different opinions on various forums about whether the battery, alternator and ECU should be disconnected.

I seem to remember long time ago that it was generally thought alternators should be disconnected to protect their electronics but as I say the opinions are totally mixed.

I'm hoping there may be someone on the forum who does chassis welding professionally and can advise from their professional experience, and of course anyone else who wants to comment.

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

I always disconnect the alternator.
Never considered why but a wise old chap once told me and I have always done so.

 

rich28uk

Well-Known Member

• Apr 16, 2020

• #5

Iv just done small patch on td5 disco and spoke to a mechanic about it, he now uses a surge protector but previous to that just took battery neg terminal off and kept weld return lead as close as possible to the arc. He was saying defenders/ discos arnt to bad as most things are isolated from the chassis with body mounts/ rubber engine mounts etc.
Rich.

 

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lrjohn

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2020

• #6

Thames for the responses guys, very helpful

 

nobber

Well-Known Member

• Apr 27, 2020

• #7

Ive welded a few things up, only ever used a surge protector across the battery.