A portable welding arrangement includes a welding apparatus having a storage battery, a power source, a welding control means and a connection for a welding torch. The operating mode of the welding apparatus can be changed between a standby mode and a welding mode. The portable welding arrangement includes a charging apparatus that can be connected to a power supply network and to the welding apparatus and has a charge controller for charging the storage battery. In a method for operating such a portable welding arrangement, for optimum charging of the battery, the charge controller of the charging apparatus is designed to control the charge of the accumulator of the welding apparatus in accordance with the operating mode of the welding apparatus.