Portable arc voltage wirefeed welding system

In a consumable wire electrode arc welding system having a welding power source, a portable wirefeed unit and a remote welding gun with a normally open trigger switch, a single electrode power cable interconnecting the power source to the wirefeed unit and to said gun, a ground cable interconnecting the power source and a work piece to be welded, and control cables interconnecting the wirefeed unit with said trigger switch and welding ground potential, improved wirefeed and welding control apparatus comprising:

• rectifier means coupled to the electrode power cable for energization by either AC or DC power carried thereby and productive of a low voltage DC output, capacitor means in circuit with the output of said rectifier means, voltage regulator means in circuit with said capacitor means and the output of said rectifier means for providing low voltage power to load components comprising control relay means and welding contactor control means;
• wirefeed drive motor means in circuit with the output of said rectifier means and operable to feed electrode wire to the welding gun, and welding contactors in circuit with the electrode power cable and welding gun and operable to control energization of the welding wire electrode;
• said capacitor means serving to reinforce the output of said voltage regulator means to maintain said control relay means and welding contactor control means energized during low voltage dips, such as at welding arc initiation;
• energization of said control relay means and welding contactor control means being selectively controlled by the welding gun trigger switch.