Standard arc welders or power supplies are hooked up in parallel or series connections to obtain an adequate supply of current or voltage for various purposes. This method provides maximum flexibility in a wide range of voltages and currents

Beasley, W. D.

Brooks, J. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

October 1966	 Brief 66-10441 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Standard Arc Welders Provide High Amperage Direct Current Source 
1welding 
1 600 Amp 
Machine	 4ov 
 Amp 
/ 
Meter	 Meter 
	 600 Amp 
	
114AmP
P^?40V
Amp	 1800 Amp
chine- 
40V 	
140v	 Machine - 40V
	
120V 
Welding	 Amp 40 V 
Parallel Connection 
The problem: 
To obtain an adequate supply of current or voltage 
for various purposes such as arcs, high power mag-
nets, and laboratory experiments. Special equipment 
which is now available is expensive and limited in its 
range of application. 
The solution: 
Hook up a number of standard arc welders or 
power supplies in parallel or series connections to ob-
tain the desired current and voltage. This method pro-
vides maximum flexibility in a wide range of voltages 
and currents. 
How it's done: 
To obtain 120 volts for a 600 ampere dc arc at re-
duced pressure, 3 standard arc welders each rated at 
600 amperes, 40 volts were connected in series, the 
total voltage then being the sum of the individual 
voltages: 120. To obtain high currents for large mag-
net coils a parallel arrangement was used. For ex-
ample, 2 aircraft starters, each rated at 1500 amperes, 
28 volts were connected in parallel to provide 3000 
amperes at 28 volts.
Series Connection 
Notes: 
1. In the series connection, control of the arc welders 
permitted a variation in arc current from approxi-
mately 200 to 600 amperes with no ballast resistors 
required. 
2. Care must be taken in the parallel arrangement to 
see that each unit used has nearly equal output. 
Gross discrepancies in outputs can cause damage 
to equipment and hence appropriate monitoring is 
needed. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Langley Station 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: B66-10441 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Joseph D. Brooks 
and William D. Beasley 
(LaRC-267 & 268) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Standard arc welders provide high amperage direct current source

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