A welding power source comprising: - a housing formed from a metallic material, - a welding inverter , - a digital, electronic welding process computing unit , and - a human-machine interface device , wherein the welding process computing unit is configured so as to drive the welding inverter , wherein the welding process computing unit and the welding inverter are arranged in the housing and the human-machine interface device is fixed to the welding power source outside the housing , wherein the welding power source additionally comprises a digital, electronic human-machine computing unit externally fixed to the welding power source outside of the housing , and wherein the human-machine interface device is connected to the human-machine computing unit , and wherein the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are networked to one another via a communication link and form a computer network, [wherein] the welding power source is characterized in that the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are galvanically separated from one another by means of one or more optocoupler(s) or inductive coupler(s), and the communication link is a field bus connection. - a housing formed from a metallic material, - a welding inverter , - a digital, electronic welding process computing unit , and - a human-machine interface device , wherein the welding process computing unit is configured so as to drive the welding inverter , wherein the welding process computing unit and the welding inverter are arranged in the housing and the human-machine interface device is fixed to the welding power source outside the housing , wherein the welding power source additionally comprises a digital, electronic human-machine computing unit externally fixed to the welding power source outside of the housing , and wherein the human-machine interface device is connected to the human-machine computing unit , and wherein the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are networked to one another via a communication link and form a computer network, [wherein] the welding power source is characterized in that the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are galvanically separated from one another by means of one or more optocoupler(s) or inductive coupler(s), and the communication link is a field bus connection. wherein the welding process computing unit is configured so as to drive the welding inverter , wherein the welding process computing unit and the welding inverter are arranged in the housing and the human-machine interface device is fixed to the welding power source outside the housing , wherein the welding power source additionally comprises a digital, electronic human-machine computing unit externally fixed to the welding power source outside of the housing , and wherein the human-machine interface device is connected to the human-machine computing unit , and wherein the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are networked to one another via a communication link and form a computer network, [wherein] the welding power source is characterized in that the human-machine computing unit and the welding process computing unit are galvanically separated from one another by means of one or more optocoupler(s) or inductive coupler(s), and the communication link is a field bus connection. <EOS>