The invention relates to a heavy-current transformer (12), in particular for a power source (10) in order to provide a welding current of a resistance welding device (1), with at least one primary winding (13) and at least one secondary winding (14) with center tapping, and to a transformer element, a contact plate (29) and a secondary winding (14) for such a heavy-current transformer (12) as well as a method for the manufacturing thereof. For reduction of losses and improvement of efficiency, at least four contacts (20, 21, 22, 23) are provided to form a multi-point contacting, said contacts (20, 21, 22, 23) being formed by four contact faces within which the at least one primary winding (13) and the at least one secondary winding (14) are arranged in a series/parallel connection.

A welding device for carrying out a TIG welding process, which device enables improved control the welding process. A measuring winding is provided in an ignition device and a second voltage measuring device is provided in the welding device for detecting a measuring winding voltage at the measuring winding; and/or a measuring winding simulation device is provided in the welding device for simulating a virtual measuring winding of the ignition device and for determining a measuring winding voltage at the virtual measuring winding; and a control unit is designed to use the power source voltage and the measuring winding voltage detected by the second voltage measuring device or determined by the measuring winding simulation device to determine a TIG arc voltage at the TIG arc, and is designed to use the determined TIG arc voltage to control the TIG welding process.

The disclosure relates to a power component for providing an electric current, having plates aligned parallel to one another which are connected to the current inputs and the current outputs of power semiconductors embedded in a component carrier. High currents, for example for resistance welding, can thereby be controlled without excessive heat losses resulting in an increase in temperature of the entire arrangement and thereby in a reduction of the service life.

The invention relates to a power source (10) for providing a direct current, comprising a heavy-current transformer (12) with at least one primary winding (13) and at least one secondary winding (14) with center tapping, a synchronous rectifier (16) connected with the at least one secondary winding (14) of the heavy-current transformer (12) and comprising circuit elements (24), and a circuit (17) for actuating the circuit elements (24) of the synchronous rectifier (16), and a supply circuit (48) for supplying the synchronous rectifier (16) and the actuation circuit (17), and to a method for cooling such a power source (10). For reduction of losses and improvement of efficiency, the synchronous rectifier (16) and the actuation circuit (17) and the supply circuit (48) thereof are integrated in the heavy-current transformer (12).

A flat, electrically and thermally conductive flat surface group is formed in the common connection region 32 of the secondary coil 13. The flat conductive surface group is directly and mechanically joined to the connecting surfaces of the first conductor plate 42, the second conductor plate 44, and the third conductor plate 46, respectively. The first conductor plate 42, the second conductor plate 44, and the third conductor plate 46 cover the entire common connection region 32. The annular first conductor plate 42 occupies the maximum area. The refrigerant can be circulated in the annular cavity provided inside the first conductor plate 42 to efficiently cool the whole.

High-frequency transformers using solid wire for welding-type power supplies are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply transformer includes: a first coil assembly comprising a first plurality of turns of a first solid wire wrapped around a first bobbin to form a first single-layer primary winding, and a second plurality of turns of a second conductor over the first plurality of turns to form a first single-layer secondary winding; a second coil assembly comprising a third plurality of turns of a second solid wire wrapped around a second bobbin to form a second single-layer primary winding, and a fourth plurality of turns of the second conductor over the third plurality of turns to form a second single-layer secondary winding, the first single-layer primary winding being in parallel with the second single-layer primary winding, wherein the second conductor comprises at least one of an obround cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, or a rectangular cross-section having radiused corners, the second plurality of turns have a transverse cross-section of the second conductor that is constant along at least the portion of the second conductor comprising the second plurality of turns, and the fourth plurality of turns have a transverse cross-section of the second conductor that is constant along at least the portion of the second conductor comprising the fourth plurality of turns; and first and second cores disposed at least partially within the first and second bobbins.