A welding assembly and method is described which includes a charging circuit and regulator coupled to an input power source; an energy storage element connected in parallel with the charging circuit and regulator to increase the weld current output, wherein the energy storage element is charged by the charging circuit and regulator; and a weld output controller connected in parallel with the energy storage element for controlling a welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece, wherein the weld output controller includes a forward converter/inverter including a series circuit of a primary winding of a transformer, and a switching element which is coupled to the energy storage element, and a rectifier smoothing circuit which rectifies and smoothes a voltage induced in a secondary winding of the transformer according to a switching operation of the switching element, wherein the rectifier smoothing circuit conducts during an ON period of the switching element.