Systems and methods to provide welding-type arc starting and stabilization with reduced open circuit voltage

A welding-type power supply, comprising:

• power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power;
• a current sensor configured to measure a current of the welding-type power;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• control one or more switching elements of the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power having an output voltage based on duty cycles of the one or more switching elements;
• monitor an output current of the welding-type power;
• and
• while the output current is less than a first threshold current:
• output a first predetermined sequence of duty cycles to the one or more switching elements of the power conversion circuitry to cause the power conversion circuitry to output voltage pulses to increase the output current during the voltage pulses;
• and
• determine whether the output current during the first predetermined sequence of duty cycles is greater than a threshold current;
• in response to determining that the output current during the first predetermined sequence of duty cycles is less than the threshold current, output a second predetermined sequence of duty cycles following an interval of the output voltage being less than a second voltage;
• and
• in response to determining that the output current during the first predetermined sequence of duty cycles is greater than the threshold current, control the one or more switching elements to output the welding-type power.