Open-Circuit voltage occurs:

Open-Circuit voltage occurs:

• A. When the machine is on and the welding is not taking place
• B. During active welding
• C. Only when the machine is off
• D. Only at high current

Answer: (A)

Open-circuit voltage is the voltage available at the welding output when no welding current is flowing. It exists when the machine is turned on but the arc hasn’t been struck (the circuit is open). This no-load voltage is there to help strike and establish the arc. Once welding begins and current flows through the arc, the voltage drops to the arc voltage, which is typically much lower than the open-circuit value. If the machine is off, there’s essentially no output voltage at all. The open-circuit voltage isn’t about current level—it's defined by the no-load condition, so it doesn’t depend on welding current or occur only at high current.

Open-circuit voltage is the voltage available at the welding output when no welding current is flowing. It exists when the machine is turned on but the arc hasn’t been struck (the circuit is open). This no-load voltage is there to help strike and establish the arc. Once welding begins and current flows through the arc, the voltage drops to the arc voltage, which is typically much lower than the open-circuit value. If the machine is off, there’s essentially no output voltage at all. The open-circuit voltage isn’t about current level—it's defined by the no-load condition, so it doesn’t depend on welding current or occur only at high current.