Ballast

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Chip Ford" <chipford@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

O.K. I have found a pic of a ballast diagram. I can see in this 
diagram that it is wired in series with (1) leg of the 240 ac feeding 
the input transformer. Is this the normal configuration? Or should 
one ballast both legs? Also what is the talk about running the welder 
leads in the open curcuit. I guess that shorting these leads will 
increase the ballasting effects of the transformer. I have welded 
quite a bit with a buzz box. I can remember the change in the sound 
of the transformer when an arc was present compared to when it was 
not. So I am lead to believe that when you ballast with a 
transformer, You only use one set of the windings. the secondary 
leads can be left open, shorted, or have a load connected between 
them. A resistor perhaps??? Am I correct. I can't quite wrap my head 
around what it will take for me to determine the amount of ballast I 
will require...Let's keep talking...

http://hot-streamer.com/temp/Ballast.JPG

Chip