METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INITIATING A WELDING ARC

摘要

An apparatus for initiating a welding arc during a lift arc start. The apparatus includes a power circuit to provide welding power to a power output, a background circuit to provide background power to the power output to maintain the welding arc during low power welding processes, and a controller. The background circuit is enabled prior to drawing the welding arc, thus providing a background voltage to the power output of the welding device. The background voltage is monitored such that the controller can detect when the welder has touched the electrode to the workpiece. Upon detection of a short, the controller enables the power circuit to provide a flow of output current to the power output.