The most crucial piece of welding safety gear is an auto-darkening welding helmet. It has an automatic brightness control.
Because of this, however, knowing how to check your auto-darkening welding helmet is crucial.
It’s essential to know your auto-darkening helmet is functioning before striking an arc, as not doing so can lead to eye fatigue or welder’s flash, both of which can cause permanent damage to your eyes.
Your auto-darkening welding helmet’s lens can be checked in four different ways, all of which are quick and painless. So, let’s check it out!
How To Test Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
To test an auto-darkening welding helmet, follow these steps:
1. Adjust The Sensitivity And Delay Settings
The sensitivity and delay settings on an auto-darkening welding helmet are important to adjust for optimal performance. The sensitivity setting determines how much light is required to trigger the auto-darkening lens, while the delay setting controls how quickly the lens returns to its normal, clear state after the welding arc has stopped.
To adjust the sensitivity and delay settings on your welding helmet, follow these steps:
- Turn on the welding helmet by pressing the power button.
- Locate the sensitivity and delay controls on the helmet. These are usually located on the inside of the helmet near the lens.
- Adjust the sensitivity control to a level that works well for your welding process. This may require some trial and error to find the right level.
- Adjust the delay control to a setting that allows the lens to clear quickly enough after the welding arc stops. Again, some experimentation may be necessary to find the right setting.
- Test the helmet to make sure it is working properly. Hold a welding lens test kit in front of the helmet and activate the welding process by striking an arc. Observe whether the helmet’s lens changes to the appropriate shade of darkness and returns to its clear state quickly enough.
- Repeat steps 3-5 as needed until you find the optimal sensitivity and delay settings for your welding process.
Note that the specific sensitivity and delay settings will vary depending on the type of welding being performed and the intensity of the light produced. It is important to consult the manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines to determine the appropriate settings for your specific helmet and welding process.
2. Place A Welding Lens Test Kit In The Welding Area
A welding lens test kit is a useful tool to test the performance of your welding helmet’s auto-darkening lens. The kit typically consists of a piece of welding filter glass that has different shades of darkness, ranging from very light to very dark.
To use a welding lens test kit to test your welding helmet, follow these steps:
- Obtain a welding lens test kit from a welding supply store or online retailer.
- Clear the welding area of any flammable materials and make sure you have all necessary safety gear, including gloves, eye protection, and a welding apron.
- Put on your welding helmet and adjust the sensitivity and delay settings as needed.
- Hold the welding lens test kit in front of the welding lens.
- Activate the welding process by striking an arc, or using a welding simulator.
- Observe whether the welding helmet’s lens changes to the appropriate shade of darkness for the welding process. The correct shade of darkness will depend on the welding process and the intensity of the light produced.
- Move the welding lens test kit around to different areas and angles to ensure that the helmet’s sensors detect the light from all angles and the helmet maintains the appropriate shade of darkness.
- Test the helmet with each shade of the welding lens test kit to make sure it can adjust to different levels of brightness.
- If the helmet fails any of these tests, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for troubleshooting and maintenance or consider getting it checked by a professional.
Regularly testing the performance of your welding helmet with a lens test kit is important to ensure that it is providing adequate protection to your eyes and face during welding activities.
3. Use The Spark From A Lighter
To verify that your auto-darkening helmet is functioning properly, you can also use a lighter’s spark. The spark will be bright enough to trigger the lens change, and it will be a close enough replica of a welder flame to fool the sensor.
Additionally, the lighter can be moved around like a welder to prevent any interference with the helmet’s operation. Flicking the flame on and off with the more delicate is another way to test the helmet’s integrity.
This is a practical solution for smokers because a lighter is always within reach. It’s a quick and straightforward way to check that your auto-darkening helmet is functioning as intended.
4. Use A TV Remote
Using a remote control that sends out an IR signal is another cool way to check the functionality of your auto-darkening helmet. Common IR-emitting TVs and stereo remote controls can serve this function.
Welders’ helmets are designed to prevent exposure to both UV and IR light, making them suitable for use with TV remote controls that use IR signals. If you wear a helmet with an auto-darkening feature and point a remote at it, then press any button on the remote, the feature should activate and turn on the dark setting.
Yet, caution is required when employing this method. Adjusting your helmet’s sensitivity to its maximum setting may be necessary if the IR signal is weak. Additionally, the pulsed signals emitted by some infrared remotes can cause your helmet to flicker.
If your helmet flickers, try increasing the delay time. If you try this and nothing happens, you should probably make sure the remote is functional and sending IR signals first.
How Long Do Auto-Darkening Helmets Last?
The lifespan of an auto-darkening welding helmet can vary depending on the quality of the helmet, how frequently it is used, and how well it is maintained. However, most auto-darkening helmets have an estimated lifespan of around 3 to 7 years.
Factors that can affect the lifespan of an auto-darkening welding helmet include:
- Quality: Higher-quality helmets typically last longer than lower-quality ones due to their better construction and materials.
- Usage: A helmet that is used frequently will generally wear out more quickly than one that is used only occasionally.
- Maintenance: Proper maintenance, such as regularly cleaning the lens and replacing the batteries as needed, can extend the lifespan of a helmet.
- Storage: Storing the helmet in a cool, dry place when not in use can also help prolong its lifespan.
It is important to note that the auto-darkening feature of the helmet may stop working before the rest of the helmet wears out. This can be due to issues with the sensors or electronic components of the helmet. If the auto-darkening feature stops working, the helmet should be inspected and repaired by a qualified professional.
In summary, while the lifespan of an auto-darkening welding helmet can vary, most helmets have an estimated lifespan of around 3 to 7 years. Proper maintenance and storage can help prolong the helmet’s lifespan, but if the auto-darkening feature stops working, the helmet should be inspected and repaired by a professional.
Conclusion
To protect your eyes from injury, you must run a test on your auto-darkening welding helmet before you start welding. You can test your auto-darkening welding helmet without actually striking an arc, which is a huge relief.
For instance, you can leave the lens out in the sun, use the spark from a lighter, or, if all else fails, keep an infrared (IR) TV remote on hand.
Using these methods to check that your welding helmet is in good working order before you strike an arc and begin welding can save a lot of time.
For more additional readings, check out this blog about how to test auto darkening welding helmet as well.