The automatic welding-machine starter and its relation to maximum utilization of power and facilities

MANY electric-arc-welding applications are of such a nature that the welding machine is running with no load for a large percentage of the operating time. With this low utilization factor or “arc time,” no-load power consumption becomes an appreciable item. In plants employing many machines there will be long leads between the machines and the work, either by necessity or for convenience. Under these conditions, the practicability of expecting the operator, or welder, to turn his machine on and off each time he plans to weld is certainly very remote. The automatic welding-machine starter has been developed to shut down the machine during the normal no-load running periods. Automatic starters have been in operation under average shipyard welding conditions for the past few months. Application of the automatic starters effects a very appreciable saving in power cost, about 25 per cent or more. In addition, a marked reduction in average demand on distribution systems is realized so that additional machines, up to 75 per cent, may be added without further power facilities expenditure.