The Premier Power alternator...
The Premier Power alternator is a simple bolt-in replacement designed to increase your charging system's ability to restore spent energy. Available for most popular 4x4s, these alternators are available with power ratings from 95- to 240-amp configurations. We picked a 195-amp unit to replace the factory 95-amp alternator. This should effectively double our rig's charging ability. This alternator is said to put out 100 amps at idle, so we shouldn't have any problems winching out stuck race trucks in Baja
Editor's Note--Any vehicle can benefit from a beefed-up charging system. Choosing the right components that won't adversely affect other parts of the system is the key.
For most readers, the electrical system is completely ignored because the factory engineers have already built in a safety buffer to prevent problems with aftermarket accessories such as inverters, CBs, and auxiliary lights. In most cases, these safety buffers will prevent a discharge scenario. However, on rigs with unusually high electrical loads--such as those with a winch, compressor, and perimeter lighting--the high electrical demand can quickly tax the system and cause low voltage issues. Remember, the vehicle's battery is simply a bank account of electrical energy, and just as in real life, you can't spend more than you make. This is why we recommend upgrading the heart of the system first. In our case, this upgrade came in the form of a high-output alternator from Premier Power Welder. Next, we picked up two high-capacity deep-cycle batteries from Odyssey (Model PC2150). Both of these upgrades were installed on our resident diesel-powered project Dodge Ram, aka the Baja Bomber.
 All Premier Power alternators...  All Premier Power alternators come with a heavy-duty digital solid-state voltage regulator housed in an extruded aluminum heat sink for more efficient cooling. It also features short-circuit protection and high-powered 50-amp field transistors. This charging system can be converted into a welding system by simply adding the Premier Power Welder control box and throttle control. We have plans to install one of these handy arc-welders at a later date, but for now, the system will simply provide an abundance of amperage to our electrical system. |  Say hello to the Bomber's...  Say hello to the Bomber's new energy banks. These are Odyssey's top-of-the-line automotive batteries. We like that they come fully charged and ready to run with unrivaled performance. Capable of producing 1,090 Cold Cranking Amps (cca) each, this high-powered twosome will likely be the last pair of batteries we ever install in the Baja Bomber. All Odyssey batteries come with a six-to-ten year service life. This means an Odyssey battery is going to last roughly twice as long as any conventional lead-acid battery. They also come with a 3-year warranty against factory defects. And because they feature absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology, they do not have any free liquid acid inside to spill or maintain. In essence, all of the acid is kept absorbed in the glass mat separators. These separators also serve to keep the positive and negative plates separate. This design has an exceptional tolerance for mechanical abuse or vibrations. |  Check out the stats of the...  Check out the stats of the Odyssey PC2150 battery. You probably won't find an automotive battery with more cranking amps or reserve capacity. See the chart above for a definition on these statistics. |
Battery Glossary
CCA (cold cranking amperes): The CCA rating refers to the number of amperes a battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit until the battery voltage drops to 1.20 volts per cell, or 7.20 volts for a 12-volt battery. The Odyssey PC2150 carries a rating of 1,090 CCA, meaning that the battery will provide 1,090 amps for 30 seconds at zero degrees F before the voltage would drop to 7.20 volts.
MCA (marine cranking amperes): The MCA rating of a battery is very similar to the CCA rating; the only difference is that while the CCA is measured at a temperature of zero degrees, the MCA is measured at 32 degrees F.
PMCA (pulse marine cranking amperes): The PMCA rating refers to the short-duration (typically about 3 seconds) cranking amp rating of the battery at 32 degrees F.
Reserve capacity: The number of minutes that a battery can support a 25-ampere load at 80 degrees F until its terminal voltage drops to 1.75 volts per cell or 10.50 volts for a 12-volt battery. Thus the PC2150 battery can be discharged at 25 amps for 200 minutes at 80 degrees F before voltage drops to 10.75 volts.