In an electric arc welding, the voltage required to strike an AC arc is about-

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RSMSSB JE Electrical (Diploma) 19 May 2022 Official Paper

Answer 1

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Voltage Required to Strike an AC Arc in Electric Arc Welding:

Electric arc welding is a process that uses an electric arc to melt and join metals. The arc is struck between the electrode and the workpiece, and it generates intense heat sufficient to melt the metals at the welding point.

Arc Striking Voltage:

For AC arc welding, the voltage required to strike the arc is higher than the voltage needed to maintain the arc. This is because the arc must overcome the initial resistance of the air gap between the electrode and the workpiece.
The voltage required to strike an AC arc typically ranges between 80-90 volts. This higher voltage ensures that the arc can be initiated reliably by ionizing the air and establishing a conductive path for the current to flow.
Once the arc is struck, the voltage required to maintain the arc is usually lower, around 20-30 volts, as the air gap becomes plasma and offers much less resistance to the current.

Why 80-90 V is Ideal:

The range of 80-90 volts provides a good balance between being high enough to reliably strike the arc and low enough to ensure safety and efficiency.
Striking the arc with a voltage lower than 80 volts might result in difficulty in arc initiation, leading to unstable welding conditions and poor weld quality.
Using a voltage higher than 90 volts could pose safety risks, increase equipment wear, and lead to higher energy consumption without significant benefits in arc stability.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the correct voltage range for striking an AC arc in electric arc welding is 80-90 volts, making option 2 the correct choice.

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