Portable welding wire feed system and method

A welding system, comprising:

• a welding power supply including control circuitry configured to selectively control a plurality of wire feeders, wherein the control circuitry is configured to regulate a speed of advancement of a welding wire from each wire feeder;
• a portable wire feeder configured to couple to the welding power supply via a first welding cable and configured to couple to a welding torch via a second welding cable, wherein the portable wire feeder comprises:
• a spool support configured to support a spool of welding wire;
• and
• a wire feed drive motor configured to drive the spool in response to a control signal received from the control circuitry in the welding power supply.

A welding system, comprising:

• a welding power supply comprising wire feed control circuitry and an integral wire feeder;
• a portable wire feeder configured to couple to the welding power supply via a welding cable, wherein the wire feed control circuitry is configured to control the integral wire feeder and the portable wire feeder to regulate at least a speed of welding wire advancement, the portable wire feeder comprises a spool support configured to support a spool of welding wire, and the portable wire feeder comprises a wire feed drive motor configured to drive the spool in response to a control signal received from the wire feed control circuitry;
• and
• a welding torch configured to couple to the portable wire feeder by a cable, wherein the welding torch is controllable to generate a signal for the wire feed control circuitry to cause the wire feed control circuitry to drive the wire feed drive motor and thereby to feed the welding wire from the spool to the welding torch for a welding operation.

A welding system, comprising:

• a power unit comprising control circuitry configured to control a plurality of wire feeders;
• a wearable wire feeder separate from the power unit, wherein the wearable wire feeder comprises a drive motor configured to supply a welding wire, and the wearable wire feeder excludes any user adjustable controls of the drive motor to adjust a wire feed rate of the welding wire;
• a welding cable configured to extend from the power unit to the wearable wire feeder, wherein the welding cable is configured to supply a welding power and wire feed control signals from the power unit to the wearable wire feeder to control the drive motor;
• a welding torch;
• and
• a torch cable configured to couple to the wearable wire feeder and the welding torch, wherein the torch cable is configured to convey the welding power and the welding wire to the welding torch.