A welding system, said welding system comprising: at least one welding electrode associated with a welding electrode carrying device, the welding electrode carrying device and a welding power supply, wherein the welding electrode carrying device, such as a spool or an electrode package or the like, comprises a first identifier portion; and wherein the power supply comprises: a control panel comprising a first output control to control a first output of said welding power supply, wherein said first output control comprises a first control portion which is positionable to control said first output and a first setting portion positioned adjacent to said first control portion, characterized in that: the welding electrode carrying device is such that the first identifier portion has a first overall shape such as a circle, square, triangle etc. and a first color, and further comprising a second identifier portion having a second overall shape and a second color, wherein said first overall shape and said first color identifies at least a first characteristic of said welding electrode and wherein said second overall shape and said second color identifies at least a second characteristic of said welding electrode; and the power supply is such that said first setting portion comprises a plurality of first regions which identify different settings to control said first output, and each of said first regions contains at least one of a different color and pattern, the plurality of first regions of the first setting portion (403 B) comprises the first or second identifier portions (107, 109) of the carrying device. at least one welding electrode associated with a welding electrode carrying device, the welding electrode carrying device and a welding power supply, wherein the welding electrode carrying device, such as a spool or an electrode package or the like, comprises a first identifier portion; and wherein the power supply comprises: a control panel comprising a first output control to control a first output of said welding power supply, wherein said first output control comprises a first control portion which is positionable to control said first output and a first setting portion positioned adjacent to said first control portion, characterized in that: a control panel comprising a first output control to control a first output of said welding power supply, wherein said first output control comprises a first control portion which is positionable to control said first output and a first setting portion positioned adjacent to said first control portion, characterized in that: the welding electrode carrying device is such that the first identifier portion has a first overall shape such as a circle, square, triangle etc. and a first color, and further comprising a second identifier portion having a second overall shape and a second color, wherein said first overall shape and said first color identifies at least a first characteristic of said welding electrode and wherein said second overall shape and said second color identifies at least a second characteristic of said welding electrode; the first identifier portion has a first overall shape such as a circle, square, triangle etc. and a first color, and further comprising a second identifier portion having a second overall shape and a second color, wherein said first overall shape and said first color identifies at least a first characteristic of said welding electrode and wherein said second overall shape and said second color identifies at least a second characteristic of said welding electrode; and the power supply is such that said first setting portion comprises a plurality of first regions which identify different settings to control said first output, and each of said first regions contains at least one of a different color and pattern, the plurality of first regions of the first setting portion (403 B) comprises the first or second identifier portions (107, 109) of the carrying device. said first setting portion comprises a plurality of first regions which identify different settings to control said first output, and each of said first regions contains at least one of a different color and pattern, the plurality of first regions of the first setting portion (403 B) comprises the first or second identifier portions (107, 109) of the carrying device.