A welding power supply comprising - power conversion circuitry configured to convert an input power into an output power for a welding operation; and - control circuitry configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry , to pair a portable electronic device with the welding power supply in a wireless communication network, and to wirelessly communicate with the portable electronic device via the wireless communication network, wherein the pairing and the wireless communication are secured wherein the wireless communication is secured using security keys stored in both the portable electronic device and the control circuitry , wherein the wireless communication network comprises a ZigBee wireless mesh network, wherein the control circuitry is configured to coordinate the wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply comprising a memory , wherein data representative of the security keys is stored in the memory of the welding power supply during manufacture of the welding power supply, and wherein the security keys are not shared between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry via the wireless communication network during the pairing or the wireless communication, wherein access to the wireless communication network is secured by verifying the presence of the security keys stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and the control circuitry prior to the pairing of the portable electronic device and the control circuitry , and wherein during each communication between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply the devices check that the requisite security keys are present so that the wireless communication is permitted,and wherein the control circuitry is configured to reduce a power level of the wireless communication circuitry during pairing of the portable electronic device with the welding power supply . - power conversion circuitry configured to convert an input power into an output power for a welding operation; and - control circuitry configured to control operation of the power conversion circuitry , to pair a portable electronic device with the welding power supply in a wireless communication network, and to wirelessly communicate with the portable electronic device via the wireless communication network, wherein the pairing and the wireless communication are secured wherein the wireless communication is secured using security keys stored in both the portable electronic device and the control circuitry , wherein the wireless communication network comprises a ZigBee wireless mesh network, wherein the control circuitry is configured to coordinate the wireless communication between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply comprising a memory , wherein data representative of the security keys is stored in the memory of the welding power supply during manufacture of the welding power supply, and wherein the security keys are not shared between the portable electronic device and the control circuitry via the wireless communication network during the pairing or the wireless communication, wherein access to the wireless communication network is secured by verifying the presence of the security keys stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and the control circuitry prior to the pairing of the portable electronic device and the control circuitry , and wherein during each communication between the portable electronic device and the welding power supply the devices check that the requisite security keys are present so that the wireless communication is permitted,and wherein the control circuitry is configured to reduce a power level of the wireless communication circuitry during pairing of the portable electronic device with the welding power supply . <EOS>