BIG lights need big amps

[flexit]

I'm having 7 sets of lights set up on my 89 4.2 petrol gq.( ill have 2 fogs on one switch) (and 2 bull bar driving lights on one other)(then 3 sets on roof on another switch) ( then 2 rock lights on one) ( then 2 rear work lights) and there is a reversing light as well. i need big amps what is the best alternator to go four. which is the biggest and cheapest and what do they com off or where do i get them. any info on which relays and loom to go with or make one . is it best to yous a loom on each set or one big one??????????? interested to see what others have don with this type of set up. that is a lot of candle power . i think i might sell a set or there to my mates my eyes ar not that bad . thanks turps that's the info I'm looking for even if i don't set them all up .

[CWBYUP]

Thats 14 lights

Why ?

Not being a smart arse but do you need that many ?

If you save your coin on a alternator conversion you could buy cheap HID's.

[napsta]

afraid of the dark?

[Wild West]

Are you going to have them all on at once? If you are i would be looking at HID's

[turps]

Look at how useful the lights would be.
Fog lights on a Big 4b would be next to useless. You would have to mount them on the axle housing for them to be usefull.
As for the rest. Your going to need some looms made and there going to need to be made in pairs of lights (as its going to be semi neat and easy to manage).
When your working out you power requirements work out what the std car uses then go from there. Taking into account stereo, fridge, tail lights etc.
And for info 100w = approx 8amps. So if you have 14 aux lights with 100w each. 1400w's = 112amps. Std GQ alt of that age is good for probably 40amps flat out.
Set up your lights on rocker switches (on-off-on) for the way the lights will be used. ie if you need rock lights - roof lights and over spotties will be off.

GQ Alt are all low amp, ranging from 40amp to 60amp. It is possible to swap in other ALT search nissan or elec section for info. AEA also sell ALTs that would fit with only slight mods.

[MART]

If your going to run 14 lights , each light needs a single relay or double relay for a pair , individually fused. Cable size depends on how far you are from the battery. You will need a second battery to share the load and obviously a bigger alternator. Any auto electric joint should be able to hook you up with a bigger alternator , but you might have to refab your mount to fit it , Cheers Paul.

[GUJohnno]

Maybe you could fit those dynamo thingies like I had on my push bike as i was a kid.
One attached to each wheel, the faster you go the more light you would get...

[Jeeps]

Can anyone say B&S Ball?

[j-top paj]

GQ Alt are all low amp, ranging from 40amp to 60amp. It is possible to swap in other ALT

GU alternator perhaps? just checked mine and its 100A, but i heard theres a 130A one available.

but even that wouldnt be enough for that many lights AND the other electricals in the car

[chimpboy]

Bear in mind that a 130A alternator is not going to produce anything like 130A at idle.

[marin]

I made a 120A Bosch VT (VS Cop special) commodore alt fit mine with a simple bracket. There isn't anything as far as i know that will fit easily, just about everything will need some sort of bracket made up. If you are really serious about big amps, then look into the new bosch water cooled alternators, they put out something like 360A and are fully sealed (not sure if they are available yet though?!?!?!?!?????), otherwise your best bet is to HID convert all your lights, search ebay for kits, they pull bugger all amps (2 amps each when running? some1 will correct me me) but if you have a standard alternator, you are best of upgrading it anyway as well as putting in the HID kits. Also with HID's maybe you will be able to ditch some of the lights, as long as you have that many light so that you can actually see, not just for looks.

marin

[drivesafe]

There is a brand of alternator marketed under he name Police Alternator, or something like that.

There good for up to 240 amps and are specifically set up to be able to get max power while the engine is running slowly.

You can gather from the name what market they are aimed at but they are sold to the public.

There a yank company so do a google and you might get some info.

Cheers.

[Guy]

dual alternators perhaps ... I knw it was\is an option of some of the bigger phord F series trucks

[chimpboy]

dual alternators perhaps ... I knw it was\is an option of some of the bigger phord F series trucks

Good point, if you seriously wanted all those lights (I have to admit I love having lots of lights) then forty bucks gets you another 85A from an EA-EF falcon alternator.

[drivesafe]

dual alternators perhaps ... I knw it was\is an option of some of the bigger phord F series trucks

Interesting idea and has anybody tried it.

I’ve had a bit of experience with dual alternators in 12/24 volt set-up where the two alternators have there own circuits and this is a fairly common installation in 24 volt buses/motor homes, but how would you get on with two similar voltage alternators, or would you, like a 12/24 volt set-up, just have two separate circuits

Cheers

[-Scott-]

I started thinking dual alternators, then got to thinking 24V.

Consider installing TWO extra batteries to run all your lights, with 24V globes. Same power with half the current, helps in all sorts of ways.

Just another option...

[Guy]

I was thinking two independant systems, keep your headlights on the standard alt and battery, and run all the non essentials on the secondary system. .. if push comes to shove you could bridge one to the other to get you home\garage

[-Scott-]

I was thinking two independant systems, keep your headlights on the standard alt and battery, and run all the non essentials on the secondary system. .. if push comes to shove you could bridge one to the other to get you home\garage

I like this concept; I see some benefits from one alternator per battery. But, if one system hasn't got much load that alternator isn't doing much (which probably isn't an issue.)

Then I thought about bridging the positives, which could have some benefits if one system is heavily loaded and the other isn't. But, will it make much difference? And will it cause any problems? Anybody seen or heard of this?

[chimpboy]

Then I thought about bridging the positives, which could have some benefits if one system is heavily loaded and the other isn't. But, will it make much difference? And will it cause any problems? Anybody seen or heard of this?

We've had a thread on two alternators in parallel... but I don't think it had any decisive outcomes.

IMHO it would work fine, I think that most of the work would be done by one alternator (which would self-select based on its regulator) with the second one only starting to do much work after the first one started running out of current.

I like some of these alternatives but overall I still think KISS is a good principle, just upgrade the alternator with a serious one, like one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0138267207

or these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0137812750

... assuming they actually perform as claimed. You'd need at least a double vee pulley to be sure it ran though.

Worth the money? Dunno, all those lights aren't really worth the money in the first place so it's more of a how-bad-do-you-want-it thing.

If you are making room for another pulley-driven engine accessory, it should be an air compressor imho, not a second alternator

[-Scott-]

Then I thought about bridging the positives, which could have some benefits if one system is heavily loaded and the other isn't. But, will it make much difference? And will it cause any problems? Anybody seen or heard of this?

We've had a thread on two alternators in parallel... but I don't think it had any decisive outcomes.

Was that the "phase polarity vs vector polarity" discussion?