Battery-powered welding machine

A battery-powered welding machine, comprising:

• a battery;
• charging circuitry operatively connected to the battery to charge the battery;
• output circuitry operatively connected to the battery to receive electrical energy from the battery to create a welding arc, wherein the output circuitry includes a bleed circuit to selectively discharge residual energy in the output circuitry;
• a current sensor that generates a welding current level signal;
• an isolation switch connected between battery and the charging circuitry to selectively connect and disconnect the battery from the charging circuitry;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the isolation switch to control operations of the isolation switch, wherein the controller is configured automatically operate the isolation switch to disconnect the battery from the charging circuitry during a welding operation.

A battery-powered welding machine, comprising:

• a battery;
• charging circuitry operatively connected to the battery to charge the battery;
• output circuitry operatively connected to the battery to receive electrical energy from the battery to create a welding arc;
• a first isolation switch connected between battery and the output circuitry to selectively connect and disconnect the battery from the output circuitry;
• a second isolation switch connected between battery and the charging circuitry to selectively connect and disconnect the battery from the charging circuitry;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the first isolation switch to control operations of the first isolation switch, and operatively connected to the second isolation switch to control operations of the second isolation switch, wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate the second isolation switch to disconnect the battery from the charging circuitry during a welding operation, and
• wherein the controller is further configured to detect a high voltage condition within the output circuitry and, when the high voltage condition is detected, automatically operate the first isolation switch to disconnect the battery from the output circuitry.