What is Duty Cycle of a welding power source?

 Duty cycle is one of the most important rating specifications of a welding power source. It determines the type of service for which a power source is designed. A power source with 60% duty cycle means it can supply its rated output for 6 minutes in every ten minutes interval of its operation. A 100% duty welding power source can supply rated output power continuously without any interruption and without any failure of its components.

Industrial automatic and semiautomatic welding units are designed for the 100% duty cycle.

When a welding power source need to supply more than its rated output current it is possible to do so if its duty cycle is reduced and if duty cycle is required 100% , the current drawn should be below its rated output current.