Can High Frequency from a Tig Hurt a computer that is Off?

[Cartierusm]

Title explains it. Can the high frequency starting from a Tig welder hurt a computer that is off?

I've gone through quite a few computers in my shop that control my CNC equipment and I'm trying to figure out why. It stays very clean and the only thing that I think could affect it is the HF of my Tig, but the computer is never on when I'm using the Tig.

Help would be appreciated.

[doorknob]

I don't have any experience running a TIG welder in proximity to a computer.

Having said that, however, can you provide more detailed information about exactly what part or function is failing in the computers that have had failures? What symptom or failure mode do you see?

[Cartierusm]

Not sure, twice it seemed that it was a powersupply, that could just be coincidence. Now the computer locks up when the CNC is on, such as TOTAL lock up,can't move mouse -- nothing. I left the computer on for a couple of hours with Mach 3 on but not the CNC equipment and it didn't lock up. So who knows.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Cartierusm ..... but the computer is never on when I'm using the Tig.......

This is not 100% correct. Most computers, desktop that is, are "on" in some sense because they are drawing power and waiting for you to hit the soft start button on the front. This button does not turn the power on it just tells the processor to come alive. Have you tried unplugging the computers when you are using the Tig?

[Cartierusm]

What does it matter if it's unplugged? I don't mean that the computer always goes out when ever I use the Tig, that would be obvious. I use Tig and computer for years before anything goes wrong, but now it's happened again and I'm just trying to rule things out.

[eaglezsoar]

Your original question:

Can High Frequency from a Tig Hurt a computer that is Off?
Title explains it. Can the high frequency starting from a Tig welder hurt a computer that is off?

As Geof tried to tell you, the computer is not necessarily off just because
the power button is pushed. It may appear to be off but current is flowing
through the motherboard so that it can be brought to life by a network card, a keyboard stroke or any of several other means.

So your question should be can high frequency from a Tig hurt a computer that is plugged in. The answer to that is yes.

[Cartierusm]

LOL, OK, I revise my question. Although I always disable turn on by network card in the BIOS and I always disable Sleep or Hibernate.

Anyway, what would be a solution, should I just unplug the computer any time I'm using a device with High Frequency?

[eaglezsoar]

Originally Posted by Cartierusm LOL, OK, I revise my question. Although I always disable turn on by network card in the BIOS and I always disable Sleep or Hibernate. Anyway, what would be a solution, should I just unplug the computer any time I'm using a device with High Frequency?

That is correct.

[Cartierusm]

thanks, makes a power strip come in handy.

[RomanLini]

Make it a power strip with an inbuilt filter. They don't that much more.