A welding system comprising a user manipulatable device, a proximity sensor positioned on said user manipulatable device, an engine capable of operation in an energy conservation mode and an operating mode, and a generator operatively coupled to the engine. The generator may provide at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output. The engine may operate (1) in the operating mode when the proximity sensor outputs the first output signal, and (2) in the energy conservation mode when the engine is not operating in the operating mode. The proximity sensor may be configured to output the first output signal when an operator of said welding system is in-range.

An example welding accessory includes: a weld input configured to receive first welding-type power; and power conversion circuitry configured to: convert a first portion of the first welding-type power to second welding-type power; output the second welding-type power to a weld circuit; convert a second portion of the first welding-type power to preheating power; and output the preheating power to a preheater.