Tesla coil in welder

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "J. B. Weazle McCreath by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca>


Hello Coilers,

I remember years ago seeing inside a Hobart TIG welding machine.
In the heavy lead going to the electrode holder was a robust
inductor made of flat copper bar about 3/4" x 1/8".  Attached
to this bar was a high voltage lead, forming an air core, 
bifilar wound transformer of about 20 turns or so if I recall
correctly.  The high voltage lead connected to a spark gap,
capacitor, and high voltage transformer.  This TC of sorts 
impressed a high frequency component onto the low voltage,
high current welding circuit to initiate the arc.


73, Weazle, VE3EAR/VE3WZL

Listening: 147.030+ and 442.075+
E-mail:    weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca
           or ve3ear-at-rac.ca
Web site:  www.hurontel.on.ca/~weazle