Simple Guide On How to Charge A Solar Powered Welding Helmet!

If you need to work on your welding project without delay, you might want to learn how to charge a solar-powered welding helmet.

In this way, they stay in good condition and are always ready to help.

Most auto-darkening welding helmets have solar power technology.

Some people think that the word “solar” always means that it is powered by the sun, but it’s a common misconception. This is especially true when talking about auto-darkening helmets.

How Does A Solar Powered Welding Helmet Work

A solar-powered, automatic-darkening welding helmet uses both battery and solar power. The battery is designed to power the hood or mask initially for when you start the welding arc.

Once your arc is activated, UV light generated by the arc charges the solar panel for the welding hood, which then powers all the electronics. Therefore, you don’t have to weld in the hot sun to get a charge.

Are They Worth It?

Solar-powered helmets are usually lighter, so you can wear them for extended periods. Solar power technology can also preserve your battery’s life because it does most of the work.

Therefore, we believe that auto-darkening welding helmets can be more economical than a full battery-powered helmet. Many helmets also use an auto-off feature, which ensures that you conserve energy.

What Batteries Do You Need?

Older helmet models had fixed batteries, which means you couldn’t replace or recharge them. They’re cheaper because they are only designed to last a few years (usually up to three). After that, you need to buy a new helmet.

Newer helmets either have rechargeable or replaceable lithium-ion batteries, which can last up to two years before needing to be replaced. You’d also be glad to know that it’s easy to replace the batteries.

However, you will need to have spare batteries when the time comes. Rechargeable batteries work similarly; you don’t actually replace the battery, but you can plug the helmet into an outlet to recharge them periodically.

It might also be a good idea to consider the warranty on the helmet itself. If the warranty is between seven and 10 years, you can be sure that the product is designed to last. Most fixed-battery welding helmets only give a one-year warranty, if that.

Pros and Cons

As with any product, there are good things about solar-powered, auto-darkening welding helmets, and there are some misgivings about them.

The benefits are plentiful. They’re more economical because the power is provided from the welding arc, but you can also charge them with the sun (see below).

If your helmet has an auto-off function, you’ll save on battery. Plus, the helmet is likely to be lightweight, which means you can wear it for longer periods.

Then again, older models usually have a non-rechargeable, built-in battery. If yours is quite old, you may need to replace it with a newer model.

Along with such, once you do purchase a welding helmet and it ships to your home, you may need to charge the battery before first using it.

How to Charge A Solar Powered Welding Helmet

 

How To Charge A Solar Powered Welding Helmet

If you’re purchasing a new helmet, you need to find the right one for your needs. Look for a helmet that has control settings on the outside and inside. Also, consider one that is solar-powered, as well as battery-powered.

When it arrives, you may need to charge it. You can do this one of two ways. You can leave it in the sunlight for a few hours to jumpstart the battery, or you can use more of the battery to start the helmet and let the first arc power it up.

If you have a helmet that uses rechargeable batteries, you may need to charge the batteries fully before the helmet’s first use.

If you don’t plan to use the welding helmet often, it might be best to hang it in a sunny place, but never keep it in direct sunlight.

When you’re not using it, and it is off, or in grind mode, the sunlight will still keep it powered so that it’s ready to go the next time you need it.

If it has been a while since you used the helmet and it doesn’t have power on, even when you leave it near sunlight for a few hours, you need to replace the battery or recharge the batteries, depending on the style of helmet you have.

Make sure that you use the same battery currently in the helmet or recharge the batteries according to the owner’s manual.

Conclusion

A solar-powered welding helmet recharge works best to retain the condition of your helmet. Learning the steps to charge a solar-powered welding helmet properly is essential. Otherwise, you run the risk of using the welding helmet and not working correctly. It can also be damaging to your eyes.

If you try to charge it with the arc and don’t have adequate protection, you can cause significant damage or blindness.

It is best to test that the helmet works in natural sunlight before starting the welding project.

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