An apparatus to provide welding power. The apparatus may include a direct current-alternate current (DC-AC) power converter to output a primary current and a transformer stage. The transformer stage may include at least one power transformer to receive the primary current from the (DC-AC) power converter on a primary side of the transformer stage and to output a first voltage through a first rectifier and a first set of secondary windings disposed on a secondary side of the transformer stage. The transformer stage may further include an auxiliary set of secondary windings disposed on the secondary side to output a second voltage. The apparatus may also include a pair of active unidirectional switches disposed on the secondary side to receive the second voltage from the auxiliary set of secondary windings.