A welding power source configured to receive an input power, comprising: a plurality of components comprising power conversion circuitry and a background power supply; a weld switch coupled to the power conversion circuitry, wherein the weld switch is configured to control distribution of the input power to the power conversion circuitry; and supervising circuitry coupled to the weld switch, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, and the supervising circuitry is configured to distribute the input power to the plurality of components based at least in part on a mode of the plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes comprises: a welding mode configured to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry and to the background power supply, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to close the weld switch to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry when the supervising circuitry is operating in the welding mode; and a monitoring mode configured to distribute the input power to the background power supply, and to not distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to open the weld switch when the supervising circuitry is operating in the monitoring mode. a plurality of components comprising power conversion circuitry and a background power supply; a weld switch coupled to the power conversion circuitry, wherein the weld switch is configured to control distribution of the input power to the power conversion circuitry; and supervising circuitry coupled to the weld switch, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, and the supervising circuitry is configured to distribute the input power to the plurality of components based at least in part on a mode of the plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes comprises: a welding mode configured to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry and to the background power supply, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to close the weld switch to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry when the supervising circuitry is operating in the welding mode; and a monitoring mode configured to distribute the input power to the background power supply, and to not distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to open the weld switch when the supervising circuitry is operating in the monitoring mode. a welding mode configured to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry and to the background power supply, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to close the weld switch to distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry when the supervising circuitry is operating in the welding mode; and a monitoring mode configured to distribute the input power to the background power supply, and to not distribute the input power to the power conversion circuitry, wherein the supervising circuitry is configured to open the weld switch when the supervising circuitry is operating in the monitoring mode.