The remote control drops out while the welding machine runs, what should I do?
The welding arc is one of the harshest field sources of broadband electromagnetic noise. The first response is distance: move the receiver antenna away from the welding area and the welding cables. Then take the receiver supply from a separate supply branch, fit ferrite rings on the control cables and check the earthing system.
A welding arc is like a load that is interrupted and re-established thousands of times per second; it emits broadband noise both by radiation and by conduction. In addition, if the welding current finds alternative paths to earth, it flows through the panel earthing and corrupts the reference.
Apply the following steps in order:
- Distance: move the receiver and its antenna as far as possible from the welding machine, the welding cables and the return path through the chassis. This is the most effective and the cheapest measure.
- Chassis return: connect the welding earth clamp to the point closest to the part being welded. If the clamp is far away, the welding current returns through the crane structure and the panel earthing; this is the most common root cause of noise problems.
- Supply separation: do not take the receiver supply from the same supply branch as the welding machine.
- Ferrite ring: fit them on the receiver supply and control cables.
- Wiring: carry the control signals on a twisted pair, separated from power cables by at least ≈20 cm.
- Antenna: keep it outside the panel, vertical and a few centimetres away from large metal surfaces.
If the problem persists after these steps, not carrying out welding at the same time as crane operation is an operational solution.
The full topic: 433 MHz or 2.4 GHz?