Welding Power Supplies
Description
Welding power supplies are devices that provide electric power for welding work. Welding power supplies can provide AC/DC power. Conventional welding power supplies were made of transformers or engines driving generators, but now power semiconductors and microprocessors have replaced them, thus leading to their reduction in size and weight.. Duty cycle is an important parameter in determining the performance of welding power supplies. Accordingly, at a rated voltage, a power supply with a rating of 100% duty cycle can operate without break at less than or equal to its rated current.
Types
Welding power supplies are generally classified into the following two types:
Other types of commonly available welding power supplies are listed below:
Inverter type welding power supplies
Transistor type welding power supplies
Single phase AC type welding power supplies
Condenser type welding power supplies
Specifications
The important industrial specifications for welding power supplies are listed below:
Input power
Output power
Service ratings
100% Duty cycle
Dimensions
Weight
Applications
The various applications of welding power supplies are given below:
Transistor type welding power supplies are used for precise welding of micro components as well as superfine wires
Inverter type welding power supplies are used for high speed welding of precision electronic parts
Shielded metal arc welding process uses the constant current welding power supplies for its operation
Single phase AC type welding power supplies are used in welding large parts typically thick plates and copper stranded cables
Both the gas metal arc welding and flux-cored arc welding processes use constant voltage welding power supplies for its operation