The invention discloses a compact type alternating-current arc heating device and a driving method thereof. The device comprises at least two pairs of needle electrodes arranged on the same plane or two planes and a driving module connected with the needle electrode pairs; the needle electrode pairs comprise the positive needles and negative needles, all pairs of the positive needles and negativeneedles are arranged oppositely and arranged along the center symmetrically and radially, and needle electrode outer ends are connected with the driving module; the driving module comprises a low-power transformer and a high-voltage diode, the primary side of the low-power transformer is two windings with opposite dotted terminals, the secondary side is a single winding, and the high-voltage diodeis connected to the secondary side; a secondary side output end is connected to the positive needle and the negative needle of the corresponding needle electrode pair; a control signal of the drivingmodule drives all needle electrode pairs in sequence to generate electric arcs according to the time sequence, and arc heating is achieved. Accordingly, multiple pairs of the electrodes are arrangedcompactly, arc crossing cannot occur in work, the service life of the electrodes is long, the work is stable, and the device is suitable for being applied in arc heating occasions.