Abstract: In an electric arc welder for creating an electric arc for melting and depositing metal from an advancing welding wire onto a workpiece, said welder including a power supply having a switch operated by a pulse width modulator for creating a series of current pulses having a fixed frequency and a conduction width determined by the command voltage of a control signal driving said pulse width modulator and an error amplifier for generating the command signal in accordance with a set point voltage, the improvement comprising: first set point means for creating a fixed set point voltage, second set point means for creating a ramp set point voltage increasing at a selected rate from a starting voltage to create a selected slope, a toggle means having a first toggled condition for connecting said first set point means to the error amplifier and a second toggled condition for connecting said second set point means to the error amplifier, means for creating a short signal when the wire shorts against the workpiece and

Abstract: A multi-stage down chopper for arc welding by creating current flow between an electrode and a workpiece, the chopper includes a D.C. input source, a first switching stage, with a first switch device and a first choke, this first stage selectively connects the D.C. input source across the electrode and workpiece at a controlled duty cycle and switching rate and a second switching stage, with a second switch device and a second choke, the second stage also selectively connects the D.C. input source across the electrode and workpiece at the aforesaid controlled duty cycle and switching rate, wherein the chopper is improved by the first and second chokes onto a single core and by providing a minimum current override feedback circuit.