Patent ID: 8803032

Claim:
A system that provides power to a welding application, comprising: power conversion circuitry configured to generate power suitable for a welding operation from an input power, said power conversion circuitry comprising a first circuitry and a second circuitry; a battery system connected to the power conversion circuitry to provide the input power thereto; an engine coupled to a generator to output electrical power to charge the battery system; said first circuitry coupled to the generator for converting the output power from the generator to power appropriate for the welding operation, and said second circuitry coupled to the battery system for converting the output power from the battery system to power appropriate for the welding operation; a power transmission circuitry configured to permit the generator and the battery system to simultaneously provide power for the welding operation; a detection circuitry configured to detect output of the battery system and to control operation of the engine based upon the battery system output, and wherein the detection circuitry is configured to start the engine based upon the battery system output; a control circuitry coupled in series to the battery system and the generator to control charging of the battery system, wherein the control circuitry allows the generator to charge the battery system based upon a predetermined event, and wherein the predetermined event is at least a depletion level of the battery system; and an electrode, wherein the power suitable for a welding operation is delivered to the electrode by summing power from the battery system and the engine.