Methods and systems for powering and/or charging auxiliary systems of a vehicle. Such methods and systems utilize a welding system having power conversion circuitry that receives power from at least a first power source on the vehicle and generates different output powers of the welding system characterized by different output voltages. At least two different auxiliary systems receive at least two of the different output powers of the welding system.

Control panels for welding systems are disclosed. An example power system for a vehicle includes a generator to generate electrical power and to be installed on the vehicle; a first case component configured to be attached to a surface of the vehicle; and a second case component configured to be attached to the first case component to form an enclosure, the second case component comprising: a user control device configured to receive a user input for controlling an output of the generator; and an electrical output configured to output at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the generator.

A modular direct current power source is provided. One welding power supply system includes a plurality of hysteretic buck converters coupled in parallel. The hysteretic buck converters are configured to receive a common input and to provide combined output power to a common load based upon the common input.

Systems and methods for providing a constant current controller for use in constant current welding applications are described. In one embodiment, a current controller controls the output current of the welding torch without directly measuring the output current of the welding torch. The current controller controls or sets a current in a primary winding of a transformer in an inverter of a welding power supply to control the output current of the welding torch.

A three stage power source for an electric arc welding process comprising an input stage having an AC input and a first DC output signal; a second stage in the form of an unregulated DC to DC converter having an input connected to the first DC output signal and converts the first DC output signal to a second DC output signal of the second stage; and a third stage to convert the second DC output signal to a welding output for welding wherein the input stage and the second stage are assembled into a first module within a first housing structure and the third stage is assembled into a second module having a separate housing structure connectable to the first module with long power cables. The second module also includes wire feeding systems and electronics.

Embodiments of modular-based power supply systems to support welding or cutting operations are disclosed. One embodiment includes a module rack having multiple slots configured to accept electrical input power from a single power drop within a welding or cutting environment. Multiple power supply modules are provided that are configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the multiple slots. Each power supply module is configured to accept an electrical AC input derived from the electrical input power and provide an electrical DC output. The module rack is configured to support reconfigurable parallel electrical connections of subsets of the power supply modules. Each subset is configured to electrically connect to an output power supply stage to provide a dynamic waveform-controlled welding or cutting electrical signal to support generation of a single arc between an electrode and a workpiece.

The present invention is directed to a welding-type power source that includes a power source housing and an engine arranged in the power source housing to supply electrical power. An energy storage device is included that is in rechargeable association with the internal combustion engine and arranged to provide welding-type power for at least a given period.

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed. It includes an input circuit, a dc bus, an output circuit, and a control module. The input circuit receives power and provides an intermediate signal to the bus. The output circuit receives the dc bus and provides an ac welding-type output. The output circuit includes a half-bridge output inverter with at least first and second switches. The output inverter further includes an output control circuit. The output control circuit provides freewheeling paths that includes control switches, the output, antiparallel diodes. The control module has a four quadrant control module that provides control signals to the half bridge output inverter and provides modulating control signals to the first and second output control switches. The modulating signals cause the output control switches to be turned on and off multiple times to control a rate of change of output current.

A power supply system includes multiple power supply devices including a first power supply device and a second power supply device that are connected in common to a load. The first power supply device calculates control information for controlling voltage or current to be output to the load and source information for obtaining the control information, and controls the output to the load based on the calculated control information while transmitting the source information to the second power supply device. The second power supply device receives the source information transmitted from the first power supply device, calculates control information based on the received source information, and controls the output to the load while detecting current to be output from itself to the load and transmitting current information to the first power supply device. The first power supply device receives the current information and calculates control information and source information based on the received current information and the current and voltage detected by itself.

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power includes receiving an input that may be either a single or a three phase input voltage. Three power modules, each having a single phase boost power circuit, and an output circuit process the input power. A weld output circuit receives and combines the outputs of the three power modules. An input power distribution module connects the three power modules such that each receives a unique single phase power signal. A controller controls the three power modules and the input power distribution module.