A welding apparatus having a metal enclosure and a plastic end panels affixed to the enclosure to contain therein the various electrical components of the welding apparatus. There is an internal negative electrical stud within the metal enclosure that has a high voltage applied to the stud. A protective, non-conductive electrical shield is located between the electrical stud and other conductive components within the welding apparatus to prevent arcing between the electrical stud and those conductive components as well as to prevent arcing between the electrical stud and the metal enclosure itself.