Premier Power Welder Alternator for Non-Welding use

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pono

pono

Joined
Oct 11, 2024
Threads
3
Messages
16
Location
Big Island, Hawaii
Hi all. First, apologies if I’m posting in the wrong spot.

I got my 92 80 series a year or so ago, it came with a premier power welder already installed. With that comes the premier power welder alternator.
One day while I was wheeling in the mountains near my home the welder shorted out, I ended up having to limp home and take it out.
So, here I am with this cherry 195 amp alternator made for my 3FE. Does anyone have any experience hooking this up without the welder? It would be nice to have some extra juice from the alternator for powering winch, lights, etc.
Thanks in advance 🤙

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I'd be tempted to get it repaired and use it as intended. You'd still have the 195amp alternator, with the opportunity to be the trail hero when a welder is needed.
If you don't know how to weld, you have the perfect excuse to learn.
 
Its been a while since I've seen a premier. I'm not sure if yours is set up diffrent than what I was use to seeing.
They take a high output alternator that's set up for an external voltage regulator. Normally it was a ford from a 100amp alternator. They mount the external regulator to their "box" and the two leads that go into the alternator go to the brush's.
The output lead from the alternator would go to an isolation solenoid. I think this was in the box (dont remember) It looked like an old ford starter solenoid.

In normal mode, the regulator powers the brush's and the solenoid allows power to flow to the vehicle.
In weld mode the solenoid is off, preventing power to the vehicle. The brush's are powered with a straight 12v, unregulated.
You now control the output with the throttle control.

It would take someone "old school" to diagnose a ford regulator but their probably still available. To bypass it you need to run the output from the alternator to your battery and find the ign on wire going to their box. Now you can wire a regular alternator.

Years ago, I use to build my own version of these. The design is very simple. The best ones were using a spool gun instead of arc welding.
 
@smritte Whoa very cool, I’ll dive into the welder to see what shorted.
Not sure if I should put it back in the truck once it’s fixed. I live in an area that’s super dry and brushy, I wouldn’t want to risk a weird short like what happened again.
 
Forgot to add, they used Powerline alternators. Yours looked like one of those.
 
matzell said:
Same people

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7185 Mohawk Trail
Yucca Valley
92284
CA
Call us at 800-541-1817
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Thanks for the info.
I’m assuming to be able to use this alternator I’ll need to have a voltage regulator installed somewhere. Also 195 amps seems a little crazy for just using some aux things like second battery, lights, winch etc.
Any thoughts?
 
pono said:
Thanks for the info.
I’m assuming to be able to use this alternator I’ll need to have a voltage regulator installed somewhere. Also 195 amps seems a little crazy for just using some aux things like second battery, lights, winch etc.
Any thoughts?
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Always good to have more amps in alt. It will charge battery back up quicker if you winch, or have to jump start it.
 
I'm running a 250amp. Two batteries in Cruiser and two batteries in trailer. If you add everything together, you should be under 70% of your alternator output. Use 40amp per battery and whatever else you have.
 
smritte said:
I'm running a 250amp. Two batteries in Cruiser and two batteries in trailer. If you add everything together, you should be under 70% of your alternator output. Use 40amp per battery and whatever else you have.
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What would installing the voltage regulator look like in my LC without having the welder. Do you think that’s something the ACE folks could do?
 
Just in case someone finds this interesting in the future, I just got off the phone with the ACE/power welder folks. They make a $100 kit to run the PW alternator without the actual welder installed. I’ll update the thread when I get it installed.
This might be a good alternative to the other higher amp alternators for the 3F-E out there.
 
While I'm happy you've got your answer, I must admit I'm a touch disappointed you didn't rebuild it and learn to use it.
But I'm a tool whore. LOL
 
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