Patent ID: 8680431

Claim:
A device for providing a voltage reduction capability in a welding power source, said device comprising: means for inducing an oscillating signal, from within a welding power source, in an output current path of said welding power source; means for sensing said induced oscillating signal, from within said welding power source, to generate a sensed signal being indicative of a load condition or a no-load condition between an electrode output terminal and a workpiece output terminal of said welding power source; means for detecting an RMS output voltage, from within said welding power source, being indicative of a low output voltage condition or a high output voltage condition across said electrode output terminal and said workpiece output terminal; and means for disabling an input power side of said welding power source, from within said welding power source, when said sensed signal is indicative of a no-load condition and said RMS output voltage is indicative of a high output voltage condition, wherein said means for disabling said input power side of said welding power source is realized by automatically opening a VRD switch on said input power side that is in series with a main ON/OFF switch of said welding power source and a coil of an input power contact relay of said welding power source.