An apparatus with (a) a conformable contact member with a base and a contact layer; and (b) a magnet integral with or attached to the base, wherein, when the apparatus is placed on a target surface, the magnet and the target surface attract each other such that the contact layer is secured against the target surface.

A method providing a manual welding apparatus configured to supply a welding wire to a welding gun. The welding gun has a trigger and an opening where the welding wire extends when the trigger is activated. The method also has a computer with a user interface that includes an automatic wire retract program. The program monitors the welding gun and determines when the trigger is disabled. The program indicates when a first condition is satisfied and retracts the welding wire so the welding wire does not extend from the opening of the welding gun.

A welding-type power system that includes an engine and an electric generator driven by the engine. A power bus configured to connect a power output of the electric generator to one or more of a welding-type output, a power storage device, and a switched mode power supply. A plurality of sensors are configured to monitor a plurality of parameters associated with power demand to and from the power bus and generate a signal indicative of the power demand to and from the power bus based on the monitored plurality of parameters. A controller is configured to receive the signal from the plurality of sensors, the controller to control the engine speed in response to the signal or the power demand.

A welding ground detection system and method are provided. In one embodiment, a switch actuator is interconnected to a grounding device and operatively associated with a switch. The switch is electrically connected to an electrical circuit that is operatively associated with the welding equipment. The switch is normally in an open state in which the switch opens the electrical circuit, thereby preventing welding. Upon connection of the grounding device to a workpiece, the switch actuator actuates the switch to a closed state, thereby permitting welding. In one embodiment, detection of a voltage, a current, a resistance, or an impedance of a ground connection is not required to actuate the switch.

A welding-type power supply includes a controller, a preregulator, a preregulator bus, and an output converter. The controller has a preregulator control output and an output converter control output. The controller has a converter control output connected to the control input, and a flux balancing module. The converter control output is responsive to the flux balancing module such that the flux in the transformer remains balanced.

A welding-type system with a programmed controller and alert devices for alerting a user as to the impending thermal shutdown of the welding-type system.

An example engine-driven welding-type power supply includes: an engine; a generator configured to convert mechanical power from the engine to electrical power; power conversion circuitry to convert the electrical power to welding power and to output the welding power via output terminals; and control circuitry configured to, while the engine is stopped, automatically start the engine in response to detecting a welding circuit scratch via the output terminals.

A hybrid vehicle including a welder that is adapted to be powered off a direct current (DC) bus generated by the electronics of the hybrid vehicle is provided. A variety of exemplary placements of the welder on or in the hybrid vehicle are provided. Additionally, a parallel hybrid configuration, a series hybrid configuration, and a series-parallel configuration including welding converter circuitry that is adapted to utilize the DC bus from the hybrid vehicle to generate welding power are provided.

An apparatus may include an input circuit to receive an AC input voltage having a first magnitude within a range of AC input voltages, and generate a first DC voltage; a boost converter to receive the first DC voltage and output a second DC voltage having a fixed magnitude that is not dependent upon the first magnitude of the AC input voltage; an output circuit to receive the second DC voltage and convert the second DC voltage into welding type power; a control DC-DC converter to receive the first DC voltage and output a control power signal as a third DC voltage; a boost converter control component to receive the control power signal and generate a control signal to control operation of the boost converter; and an auxiliary AC power source to receive the second DC voltage output by the boost converter and to generate an AC auxiliary output voltage.

An electric arc welding system for depositing weld metal along a groove between two edges of a metal workpiece where the system contains a first power supply and a second power supply, each providing a welding waveform to respective welding electrodes. The positive output terminals of both power supplies are coupled to the same contact tip and the negative output terminal of one of the power supplies is not coupled to the workpiece.