Why is my auto darkening welding helmet not working?

Auto-darkening helmet is the best companion for you if you are a regular welder. Moreover, your welding experience gets top-notch when everything works well with your helmet.

You will be able to have a clear vision while welding due to the auto darkening of the lens. And this gives you the safest and most comfortable experience at work. All you need to do is just put it on gently before starting.

However, your safety companion may not work properly sometimes. The auto-darkening in your helmet can be hampered. This can occur for various reasons.

This article will elaborate on the possible reasons why your auto-darkening welding helmet is not working.

Let’s get started, you may find your reason here.

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Why is my auto darkening welding helmet not working

Your helmet is not darkening and the reasons can be very slight. Accordingly, with some slight adjustments, these problems can be solved.

Therefore, before making the decision to replace your helmet with a new one, you must check what the actual problem is. Who knows, you may not need a new one!

To identify the problem, you have to do some testing to see whether auto darkening works properly or not.

Some easy ways to test your auto darkening helmet are given below:

Exposing to sunlight:

This testing requires daylight and is used for testing the sensitivity of the lens. For this, you have to expose your helmet to sunlight, facing it towards the sun will be better if possible.

As soon as you do so, it will trigger the sensor of your helmet to make the lens dark. You have to check the helmet’s sensitivity at the time and if the level is turned high, only a little exposure to sunlight will change the lens.

Note that this process will work only if there is bright sunlight outside.

Exposing to fluorescent light or Spark of a lighter:

If there is not sufficient sunlight outside, then you can follow this process of testing. And if you are a smoker, there will always be a lighter with you.

Just use the lighter’s flame as a replacement for your welding flame and use it to trigger the auto-darkening mode. First, you need to turn the lights on and take them close to your helmet, it will change the lens to dark.

Then you can move the flame as you do it while welding and see whether the auto darkening works properly or not. If you don’t have a lighter, don’t worry!! You can use bright fluorescent light for the testing.

You have to turn on the light and as done in sunlight testing, take your helmet close to it and see whether it triggers the sensors to make the dark lens occur smoothly or not.

You can do the previously mentioned testing to confirm the fact that your helmet is actually not working. This is surely a matter of dissatisfaction. But worry not, you just need to see why the problem occurred and so may solve them also.

The reasons auto-darkening helmets do not work can be many. Let’s give a look at the problems.

Lack of visibility

You may have trouble seeing when you put your helmet on. It may happen that when you wear your helmet, you just can’t see with it. You are fortunate if this is your problem. It can be easily fixed.

Solution: You will agree with me that welding is a dirty job, the environment gets dirty, it creates lots of dirt and your helmet simply gets them. You just need to clean up the lens for getting the proper visibility. Besides, if this doesn’t work, simply change the lens of the helmet.

Restricted Visibility due to too much darkening

This one is not like the low visibility, but rather somehow different. Your vision gets restricted through the lens and you will see nothing through your helmet. It may happen due to faulty batteries and can be solvable.

Solution: Before changing the battery, you can give it a try by adjusting the sensitivity. Most of the time, this problem occurs for too much sensitivity, and a slight adjustment can solve the problem.

Unreliable Helmet

You may feel very unreliable and have difficulties while wearing the helmet. This may be worrying for you while working.

Solution: This may occur due to wearing loose helmets. You need to check out the helmet adjustment and tighten it up, it will solve the problem. If it still loses or shakes while working then you need to change your helmet.

Can’t see enough of your weld

Your auto darkening mode and adjustment are okay but still, this problem may take place, you can’t have a proper look at your weld and have to constantly go move your head towards the welding spot which is frustrating indeed. Worry not, cause this can be solved.

Solution: You just need to replace your lens with a wider lens to have a proper view on the spot.

Bright weld

You may have the problem of seeing too much bright weld. Well, this is an alarming situation as it is a phenomena that your auto darkening is not working.

You do not need to worry if this happens while welding on advanced welds of industrial welding which is quite normal.

Solution: It may happen that you are not using the proper shade. Modern welding helmets come with a variety of shades, you just need to select a darker one for your weld.

Strain of eye

This problem may occur if the auto-darkening of your helmet is not fast. If this happens, don’t come to the conclusion that your helmet is failing. Instead, try the solution.

Solution: You just need to adjust the reaction time and test it to find the proper adjustment.

Conclusion:

Your auto-darkening helmet may not work for several reasons, and this article gave an overview of the reasons behind them. You can solve them in most cases.

But if the adjustments do not work, it’s better to purchase a new helmet, exchange it or fix it if it is in your warranty period.