A welding system includes a welding power supply, wire feeder, and welding circuit connecting the power supply to the wire feeder. The power supply and the wire feeder are configured for bidirectional communication over the welding circuit. The power supply includes a voltage sensor that measures a voltage level, and a current sensor that measures a current level, on the welding circuit. The power supply is configured to operate in a first welding mode to output a power voltage level to the welding circuit to power the wire feeder in response to a communication from the wire feeder over the welding circuit. The power supply generates periodic voltage dip pulses on the welding circuit, and automatically switches to a second welding mode different from the first welding mode based on the voltage level on the welding circuit falling below a threshold voltage level during a voltage dip pulse.

Apparatus and methods are provided for a welding-type power system that includes an engine configured to drive an electric generator to provide a first power output. An energy storage device to provide a second power output. A controller is configured to receive one or more control signals to provide a total power output to at least one of a welding-type output or an auxiliary type output, determine proportional values for the first power output and the second power output that add up to the total power output based on a power demand signal that indicates a contribution of the first power output and the second power output, control the engine to adjust speed based on the first power output value, and control a connection from the energy storage device to provide the second power output to the welding-type output based on the second power output value.

A welding-type power supply includes a fan configured to operate at multiple fan speeds. A controller of the welding-type power supply is configured to identify a welding parameter of the welding-type power supply, and determine an operating fan speed of the multiple fan speeds based on the welding parameter.

Described herein are examples of weld training systems that show (e.g., transparent and/or translucent) “ghost” images of a welding tool on a display screen of a welding headgear to indicate target positions and/or target orientations of an actual welding tool. In some examples, the weld training systems may additionally “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool if the target tool image gets too far away. The ability to “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool may help in minimizing a risk that an operator 106 will overcompensate to try to catch up with the target tool image, which can be detrimental to the weld. Additionally, resetting the target tool image to a position closer the welding tool may allow an operator to better perceive and/or understand differences in orientation and/or other technique parameters.

Apparatus and methods are provided for a welding-type power system that includes an engine configured to drive an electric generator to provide a first power output. An energy storage device to provide a second power output. A controller is configured to receive one or more control signals to provide a total power output to at least one of a welding-type output or an auxiliary type output, determine proportional values for the first power output and the second power output that add up to the total power output based on a power demand signal that indicates a contribution of the first power output and the second power output, control the engine to adjust speed based on the first power output value, and control a connection from the energy storage device to provide the second power output to the welding-type output based on the second power output value.

Power electronics, including welding-type power supplies may have a switched mode power supply configurable in two or more topologies. Detection circuitry of the power electronics may determine the configured topology of the switched mode power supply and the input voltage supplied to the power electronics. The detection circuitry and/or control circuitry of the power electronics may verify that the configured topology of the switched mode power supply corresponds to the supplied input voltage, and may indicate an error if the configured topology does not correspond to the supplied input voltage.

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for mitigating audible noise generated by a welding-type power supply are disclosed. In some examples, the switching frequency of the welding-type power supply may be changed to a frequency that is outside the audible range for humans. This strategy takes advantage of the fact that the observed audible noise is generated by vibrating components within the welding-type power supply that vibrate at a frequency related to the switching frequency. Other noise mitigation strategies include dithering and deactivation of portions of the welding-type power supply that vibrate to generate the audible noise.

Described herein are examples of weld training systems that show (e.g., transparent and/or translucent) “ghost” images of a welding tool on a display screen of a welding headgear to indicate target positions and/or target orientations of an actual welding tool. In some examples, the weld training systems may additionally “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool if the target tool image gets too far away. The ability to “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool may help in minimizing a risk that an operator 106 will overcompensate to try to catch up with the target tool image, which can be detrimental to the weld. Additionally, resetting the target tool image to a position closer the welding tool may allow an operator to better perceive and/or understand differences in orientation and/or other technique parameters.

Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to measure a weld cable voltage drop are disclosed. Example welding-type power supplies include a power converter configured to convert input power to output welding-type power to a remote device via a weld cable; a reference conductor connected between the power supply and the remote device; a voltage monitor configured to determine a first voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor while substantially zero current is being conducted through the reference conductor; and a receiver circuit configured to receive a second voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor from the remote device.

A method of operating a welding power supply during a welding process in which an electric arc between a consumable electrode and a work piece is generated while feeding the consumable electrode and moving the arc in relation to the work piece along a welding track, wherein a transition between a DC power output of the welding power supply and an AC power output of the welding power supply, or vice versa, is made without interruption of the welding process.