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Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Issues with an auto darkening welding helmet and LED lightin
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 Smile
Post #757498 9th Feb 2019 10:17am
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andydef90



Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 617

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
it must be the intensity of the led lighting only thing I can think of is to put florescent fittings up in tandem and use them just for welding . not very helpful I know sorry
Post #757534 9th Feb 2019 2:00pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
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United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
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
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Post #757536 9th Feb 2019 2:08pm
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Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
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.
Post #757596 9th Feb 2019 6:52pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16808

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
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.
Post #757635 9th Feb 2019 8:56pm
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Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
It's looking like that's the case.

Anyone got a recommendation for a decent helmet?

Laughing
Post #757879 10th Feb 2019 9:48pm
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Intercept



Member Since: 27 Feb 2017
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 587

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 Black LE Java Black
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.
Post #757918 11th Feb 2019 10:35am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
Our workshop has all led lighting (replacement fittings rather than retrofit lamps) and we use a britarc helmet Thumbs Up 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
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Post #757924 11th Feb 2019 11:10am
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