Patent ID: 7034245

Claim:
A system for controlling the pilot arc current supplied to an arc cutting or welding machine, said system comprising: an output voltage source connected to the arc cutting or welding machine for providing both a pilot arc and main arc current thereto; a main arc current control device connected to an input of said output voltage source, said main arc current control device providing a first reference signal to said output voltage source indicating the desired level of main arc current to be output by said output voltage source to the arc cutting or welding machine; and a pilot arc current control device connected to an input of said output voltage source for providing a second reference signal to said output voltage source indicating the desired level of pilot arc current to be output by said output voltage source to the arc cutting or welding machine, said pilot arc current control device capable of providing the second reference signal that is one of: proportional to the first reference signal output by said main arc current control device, such that the pilot arc current tracks the main arc current; and at least one specific value set by a user.