welding with a pacemaker

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I recently had a pacemaker defibrillator put in & I do alot of welding.my doctor told me he has had people weld with them just wondering if any of you weld with a pacemaker defibrillator . I will be using a miller 250 wire welder.
 
Probably not a problem, But I'd be careful not to put myself between hot tip and ground, anyway. But best if you check with your physician. Son has a similar pacemaker, primarily set to defib... Doc told him he should avoid heavy duty chain sawing.
 
Friend of mine has pacemaker/defibrillator and two different doctors told him to not be close to a welder let alone use one. I wonder who is right? Trouble is once your dead you are dead for a long time!
 
The doctor says the worst that could happen is I get shocked really don't want that, but at 40yrs old I really am not ready to give up welding either .
 
My FIL had a pacemaker,defibrilator and was told not to weld. I don't recall any explanation as to why, just told not to. He passed away 9 1/2 years ago though so things may have changed since then. I would make double sure but good luck anyway.


Steven
 
Contact the manufactuer of the pacemaker and ask them. Chances are your doc doesn't even know what welding is!
 
I had a pacemaker installed in march 2010. on my first doc visit he called {medtronics} and they said to stay as far away from the transformer as possible. my mig has a12 ft cable and couldn't tell the diff. CC
 
I've heard TIG welding or using a Plasma torch with a high frequency is bad if you have a pacemaker. Just MIG welding, I think might be OK but would be best to check with someone experienced with electronics.
 
Magnetic field is a concern with pacers. May effect programming. The accepted maximum field strength at MRI sites for a safe zone is 5 gauss.
 
What about using an inverter welder? Would not be near the magnetic field from one of those since its basically a switching power supply. I would want to hear it from the manufacturer of the pacemaker though.
 

I'm wondering if a small lead sheet pinned generously over the area of the pacemaker would block whatever it is from transformers or microwaves that screw them up....doubt you'll ever get a doctor or a pacemaker manufacturer to sign off on any of it though.....
 
I think the danger comes from hand to hand shocks that pass thru your chest.This type of shock can mess up heart timing and kill the pacemaker.Hand to hand shocks can make your chest and ache for hours.Most welders run 80 volts open circuit.Keep your gloves dry.
 
A gentleman I work for has a pacemaker. He is changing some of the electronics he uses (not welders) and his cardio doc is having him wear some type of recording device for a few days to determine if the new electronic devices constitute a hazard to his pacemaker.

I really understand you not wanting to give up welding, but better that than you life!

I would strongly suggest that you ask both the doc & the pacemaker manufacturer for specifics regarding both the risks and the possible solutions. The ". . . it shouldn't be a problem . . ." answer is probably not good enough where your life is concerned. The technician in me would demand a firm YES or NO.
 
I would not use the high frequency on the TIG machine. If you have a "fatal event" call your doc and tell him you had a fatal event .Thats what they say on the drug commercials anyhow.Hey doc I had a fatal event . Now that I'm dead can you change my meds please. Why yes I will do that sir.
 
Mig runs lower open circuit but you wont be touching the electrode like you do in stick welding.Kneeling on the ground and loading a new electrode with a bare hand will usually get you a shock.When the arc is broken there must be a high inductive voltage present.I think that electric shocks are bad news for pace makers.
 
Never got a shock putting an electrode in but in school we had to hold the electrode in the stinger with one hand and ground with the other. That gives a good shock. It was done to show that a welder won't electrocute you. The teacher stopped doing it because he got a higher than normal shock once.
 
i WELD WITH AC NOT HIGHEST SETTINGS DC gives me problems!!! To close to running alternator is not good either. I toured a plant where electrastid painting reset my pacesemaker
 
If you know which company manufactured your pacemaker you could contact them directly or check their website to find out what is safe and what isn't safe with their product.

If you are good with a gas welder I'd use that instead. Considering the total cost of replacing a pacemaker (or worse) it would probably cost much less to just hire someone else to do your electric welding from now on.
 

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