Wire Wizard® has American-made replacement consumables readily available for most industrial MIG guns. The long-life PowerBall® consumable design with an all-copper current path provides superior conductivity, cooling and performance.

Sometimes the cause of unnecessary downtime in industrial welding environments is something that is easily overlooked - properly insulating the wire delivery system to prevent shorts and shocks. Not only can shorting out cause downtime, it can also result in costly damage to equipment and pose an electrical shock hazard to operators. Here are three quick tips to prevent shorts and shocks:

1. Ensure the Weld Cell is Not Grounded to the Cell Wall or Cage
The most common mistake that results in shorts is improper grounding. In many applications, parts of the wire delivery system are mounted to the weld cell wall or a cage with steel connectors. If the ground connection is in contact with the wall or cage, the current will transfer to the connector, then to the wire, shorting out the welding circuit and often damaging wire delivery equipment such as conduit. To prevent this, simply ensure the grounding point (fixture, workpiece or table) is isolated from the weld cell wall. Properly grounding the welding circuit will also make a huge difference in your overall welding performance!

2. Use Insulated Connectors
Even if you are properly grounded, it's best to play it safe when it comes to preventing shorts and shocks. Insulated connectors keep steel fittings and other wire delivery equipment from coming in contact with any surface that may be electrically charged. Quick Disconnects with insulators are highly recommended as standard connections in the wire delivery system (insulators may also be added to existing disconnects). Insulating kits are also available for select wire delivery peripherals, such as Wire Straighteners.

3. Avoid Exposing Bare Wire
While this is not often a cause of shorting out the weld circuit, it can be an electrical shock hazard to any personnel near the weld cell. Additionally, keeping your wire covered prevents wire from getting dirty from contaminants in an industrial environment. Wire Wizard® Drum Hoods and Wood Reel Covers are a quick and easy solution to keep your wire protected!

To request printed catalogs, please call customer service at 517-782-8040 ext. 1 or email us at sales@wire-wizard.com