Question

An advantage of an AC welding circuit is:

a) It is best used with large electrodes on thin materials.
b) It is best used with small electrodes on thin sections.
c) It helps to eliminate arc blow.
d) It minimizes internal undercut.

Answer 1

The advantage of an AC welding circuit is that it helps to eliminate arc blow, an issue caused by magnetic disturbances that distort the electrical arc.

Step-by-step explanation:

An advantage of an AC welding circuit is that it helps to eliminate arc blow. Arc blow is a distortion of the electrical arc from its intended path, caused by magnetic disturbances. The alternating nature of the AC welding circuit helps prevent this because the current changes direction 120 times per second (assuming a 60 Hz AC supply), which helps to neutralize magnetic disturbances that can lead to arc blow. In contrast, a DC welding circuit maintains a constant polarity which can make arc blow more problematic, especially when working with high currents or in the presence of external magnetic fields.