On Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:56:06 -0600, spaco
wrote:

Was it an AC buzz box, or was it a DC welder? When an AC buzz box is
shorted, I think the transformer is detuned so much that the power
output at a couple of volts is almost nothing.

Pete Stanaitis
--------------------

A buzzbox arcwelder, whether AC or DC, delivers current essentially
independent of load at low voltages. This current will be a little
higher than the welding current at normal arc voltage of 24 V or so,
but not a lot higher.

The current is limited by the AC impedance of the xfmr, even if it is
subsequently rectified for DC welding. When you adjust the welder to
change the current setting, you're varying the leakage reactance of
the xfmr.