Abstract: Apparatus and a method for generating a ramp voltage for use as a control signal in the electrode circuit of an arc welder. The generator includes an integrator whose input is coupled to a current generator by a switching network controlled by switch logic responsive to the output voltage of the integrator itself. The current generator supplies negative and positive currents alternately to the input of the integrator as a function of the actuation of the switching network so that a ramp voltage characteristic can be obtained in which the ramp voltage, once it reaches a maximum value, will fluctuate at a frequency above 20 kHz between upper and lower limits on either side of a mean value such that the mean value will be constant over time.