Comparison ESAB A20 vs ESAB Eco Arc II

General mask type. According to this parameter, nowadays, classic masks, chameleon masks, welding shields and goggles, which can also be chameleons, are distinguished. Here are the main features of each of these options:

— Mask. Conventional Welding Helmets: Head-mounted protective devices that completely cover the wearer's face. The light filter that protects the welder's eyes from the harmful radiation of the welding arc, in this case, has a constant dimming — this is how similar models differ from chameleon masks (see below). In general, classic welding helmets are simple, inexpensive, but at the same time quite reliable and protect well from both radiation and metal spatter. Their main disadvantage can be called a permanently darkened light filter, through which practically nothing is visible until the arc burns. Because of this, in the process of work, the welder has to constantly raise and lower manually either the entire mask or the light filter (if it is folding, see "Functions"); this creates inconvenience and increases the risk of errors in work. Therefore, this variety is becoming less and less common nowadays, giving way to more advanced "chameleons" (which, as technology develops, become more and more inexpensive).
Also note that a common drawback of all masks is poor compatib...ility with respirators and other respiratory protection equipment. So when working in conditions that require such protection, you must either use a mask with a ventilation system (see "Functions"), or combine a respirator with goggles (see below). br>
— Chameleon mask. A variety of welding helmets (see above) equipped with auto-darkening filters. In the intervals between welding starts, such a light filter is almost transparent, and when the arc starts, it darkens almost instantly, providing adequate protection for the eyes. This eliminates the main disadvantage of conventional masks — the need to periodically raise and lower the light filter: the chameleon mask can be constantly kept in the working position (on the face) without sacrificing comfort. In addition, before the moment of ignition of the arc, the welder sees the work area and the welding electrode as clearly as possible, without darkening, which reduces the likelihood of defects in work. The main disadvantages of "chameleons" are the complexity of the design, the relatively high cost and the need for power. However, the first two points are offset by the mentioned ease of use, the cost of the electronic “hardware” is constantly decreasing as technology develops, and the power in most models is provided by solar panels, which eliminates the problems of finding energy sources for charging.

— Glasses. Protective devices covering only the eyes and the area of the face around them; may look like two separate lenses or panoramic glass on both eyes at once. Anyway, goggles without additional equipment are not well suited for electric welding: when using them, most of the face, including the mouth and nose, can lead to burns from intense IR and UV radiation, as well as from hot metal splashes. On the other hand, such equipment can be a real lifesaver when working in hazardous conditions where breathing protection is needed: unlike masks, goggles are compatible with almost any industrial respirator, and the goggles + respirator combination is usually much cheaper than a mask. with ventilation system. Another area of application for such products is work where full face protection is not required (for example, gas welding and cutting). In such cases, another advantage becomes relevant: glasses are noticeably lighter and more compact than masks, due to which they are easier to transport.

— Chameleon glasses. As the name implies, they combine the convenience of classic welding goggles (see paragraph above) and chameleon masks (also see paragraph above). When using them, ytmn needs to remove the model from the face — auto dimming makes the work more comfortable.

— Shield. A device for protecting the face, which is a simplified analogue of the mask. The shield also covers the entire face, but is not attached to the head — it must be held in the hand. Due to this, such products, on the one hand, are extremely cheap, on the other hand, they are inconvenient to use: only one hand of the welder remains free during work. Because of this, shields are quite rare nowadays.

The degree of light penetration provided by the mask filter, in other words, the degree of darkening (light attenuation) provided by the product.

The degree of dimming is indicated in DIN units, the larger its value, the lower the light transmission (that is, the darker the filter). Note that for chameleon masks (see "Type"), this paragraph indicates the characteristics of the light filter in the off state — that is, when it is not darkened and as transparent as possible. So for such products, the degree of light penetration is more of a reference value, and it is necessary to evaluate the actual degree of protection in "chameleons" by the minimum and maximum degree of dimming (see below).

In turn, for masks and glasses with permanent filters, the degree of light penetration is the main performance characteristic. Here you need to proceed from the following: a darker filter, on the one hand, provides higher protection against bright light, on the other hand, worsens visibility. So the optimal values for most welding work are 10 – 12 DIN, it is in this range that the characteristics of most modern masks / goggles without the "chameleon" function lie. More detailed recommendations on the optimal transparency of light filters for different situations can be found in special sources.

The smallest degree of obscuration provided by the chameleon mask (see "Type") when the light filter is activated. Recall that dimming is indicated in DIN units, the larger the number in this paragraph, the darker the filter.

This parameter is indicated only for models with dimming control (see "Functions"). From the minimum degree of dimming depends on the extent to which you can adjust the light transmission. At the same time, we recall that a darker light filter protects better from bright light, but worsens visibility; so for some tasks, a relatively low level of obscuration may be optimal. Accordingly, the lower this indicator, the wider the adjustment range of the filter, the more opportunities the user has to adjust it (with the same maximum threshold). On the other hand, the expansion of the adjustment range significantly affects the cost, and such characteristics are not always required. Therefore, nowadays, you can find chameleon masks both with a small ( 5 DIN and even less), and with a fairly significant minimum dimming ( 7 DIN or even 9 DIN). And it’s worth choosing here, depending on what is more important for you: an extensive range of adjustment or low cost.

The greatest degree of obscuration provided by the chameleon mask (see "Type") with the filter activated. For models that do not have dimming adjustment (see "Functions"), this item indicates the standard level of light transmission of the included light filter.

Recall that dimming is indicated in DIN units, the larger the number in this designation, the darker the filter. In turn, a darker mask gives better protection from bright light, but worsens visibility; Accordingly, different degrees of dimming may be optimal for different tasks. Detailed recommendations on this matter can be found in special sources; Here we note a few general points. So, the minimum indicator necessary for safe work with electric welding is 10 DIN ; as a consequence, this is the smallest value of maximum dimming that can be found in modern "chameleons". And most of these masks have higher levels of the greatest dimming — 11 DIN, 12 DIN, or even 13 DIN.

The turn-on time of the filter in the chameleon mask (see "Type"), in other words, the time between striking the arc and darkening the filter to the operating level.

From a safety point of view, the turn-on time should be as short as possible: the faster the "chameleon" works, the less bright light from the arc enters the welder's eyes. On the other hand, reducing the reaction time affects the cost of the product. So for relatively small volumes of work, it is quite acceptable to use relatively “slow” masks — for 100 μs or more(especially since even in the simplest models, the reaction time does not exceed 1200 μs, while theoretically the maximum allowable value is 2000 μs). But for more serious use, you should pay attention to more "fast" options; nowadays, you can find masks with response times from 75 to 100 µs, from 50 to 75 µs, and even less than 50 µs.

Class is a complex indicator that determines the overall quality of the light filter in a chameleon mask (see "Type"). The class is indicated by 4 numbers, each of which describes a specific optical parameter. So, the first number indicates the overall clarity and lack of distortion; the second is the degree of light scattering; third — uniformity of blackout (presence/absence of visible blackout spots); the fourth is the angular dependence (how much the filter brightens when the angle of view deviates from the perpendicular). In each case, the larger the number, the worse this parameter is. The perfect indicator is considered to be 1/1/1/1, but in fact it is very difficult to achieve an perfect angular dependence, and there is no need to. Therefore, an indicator of 1/1/1/2 is considered quite sufficient even for a high-end professional filter.

The size of the transparent part of the light filter — the "working window", the area through which the welder sees the place of work. A larger working window provides ease of use and a wide field of view, but it significantly affects the cost of the mask and somewhat reduces the strength of the light filter.

Optical sensors determine the filter response speed. They respond to sudden changes in lighting and arc flicker — characteristic signs of the start of welding work. The more sensors in the mask design, the less likely the filter will open during welding. To better capture the difference in radiation, sensors are often placed at different corners of the mask.

The range of ambient air temperatures at which the mask is guaranteed to be able to function normally. This parameter is especially important for "chameleons" (see "Functions"), because. the performance of the automatic filter directly depends on external conditions (in particular, at low temperatures, the response time may increase).