SYSTEM FOR WELDING, WIRE DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SWITCHING THE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER WITH WIRE FEEDER HAVING AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF POWER SUPPLY

摘要

A wire drive system (10) includes a wire feed motor (18) for feeding welding wire (35) in a continuous welding process. The wire drive system (10) further includes a controller (12) connected to the wire feed motor (18) for driving the motor (18) responsive to a command signal. The controller (12) is capable of detecting the source (21, 21', 16) of power from which the wire feed motor (18) is driven wherein a first possible source of power (16) is taken from the welding arc and wherein a second possible source of power (21, 21') is taken from the welding power supply.