Ignition device for GTAW welding equipment

An ignition device for welding equipment, comprising:

• a capacitor;
• a transformer having a primary winding connected to the capacitor;
• a high voltage output circuit comprising a secondary winding of the transformer;
• a switch that enables the capacitor to be discharged through the primary winding of the transformer;
• a charger comprising a pulse width modulation control circuit configured to control charging of the capacitor, the charger comprising a second transformer, a latch and an AND gate, wherein the latch is set by an oscillator signal and reset by a signal indicative of current flowing through a primary coil of the second transformer, wherein an output of the latch and the oscillator signal are supplied to the AND gate, and wherein an output of the AND gate controls a second switch that controls the current flowing through the primary coil of the second transformer;
• and
• an operation control circuit, including at least a second latch, that controls the charger to cause periodical charging of the capacitor and further controls the switch to cause periodical discharging of the capacitor and consequently a high voltage to be present at an output of the high voltage output circuit,
• wherein the charger and the operation control circuit receive a feedback signal representative of a voltage present across the capacitor,
• wherein the second latch is at least partially responsive to the feedback signal, and
• wherein the operation control circuit inhibits the periodical charging of the capacitor by the charger in response to the feedback signal being at a predetermined level.