I have always always always only ever stick welded using DCEP. It works just like I expect it to. I recently learned that in the modern parlance this is called "reverse polarity". I have also heard that if you want less penetration, you can go to DCEN, confusingly (to me) called "straight polarity". I have two questions. First, is everything I wrote above technically correct? DCEP means more penetration?
My second question is more to do with the terminology. Why is DCEP which is what I believe is mostly used everywhere called reverse? When I hook it up, it's "red on positive black on negative" which is consistent with a whole lot of things, what is backwards or reversed about it?
I've been wondering this for some time now but have hesitated to ask for fear of looking dumb. Oh, well, there's a difference between stupidity and ignorance, the latter is curable with a little perspicacity (hard work).
GWE