Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

canu run 2 alternators?

For all things Electrical.

Moderator: -Scott-

Post Reply
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:39 am
Location: darwin

canu run 2 alternators?

Post by claud »

just a silly thought, but due to old cars i drive alt,s are one thing that fail out bush on a sunday or when wet.
so can i hook up 2 in the engine and maybe have wiring to swith over at failure?its extra fan belt drag but hey, reliablity is a must.
done too many roadside repairs.
my other cars an xwgt silver fox custom xr interior go the windsors!
God of Athiests
Posts: 8336
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2003 2:14 am
Location: Brownsville

Post by DamTriton »

Running into two seperate battery circuits, yes (main starting battery, and second for accessories - fridge/UHF/etc). Not both alts connected to the one battery though.

Would mean that you would not get caught out by a dud alternator (you could still parallel up the two batteries together), and give you the flexibility to isolate one battery and jumper everything to the other if you get a dud battery.
George Carlin, an American Comedian said; "Think of how stupid the average person is, and realise that half of them are stupider than that".
Posts: 1152
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:25 pm
Location: the most livable planet in the universe

Post by its aford not a nissan »

i have two alts hooked up , i was going to run 2 circuts but i never worried about it in the end

they are both hooked up to the same battery , ran another sense wire for the 2nd alt and used the 2nd alts dash light wire for the light on the dash as it needed it for some reason where the factory alt will run fine with out it connected , when i get excited i will hook up another dash light so i know which alt ( if ever ) stops working
Posts: 5256
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:49 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by Struth »

its aford not a nissan wrote:i have two alts hooked up , i was going to run 2 circuts but i never worried about it in the end

they are both hooked up to the same battery , ran another sense wire for the 2nd alt and used the 2nd alts dash light wire for the light on the dash as it needed it for some reason where the factory alt will run fine with out it connected , when i get excited i will hook up another dash light so i know which alt ( if ever ) stops working
Some alternators need to see the initial resistance of the dash light to get excited into charging.

Cheers
Posts: 558
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:38 pm
Location: Gold Coast

Post by drivesafe »

Hi claud, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The VW Kombis were made here, ( in the 60s ) if you needed more power than was available with the standard VW, you could order one with a high current output and all they did was add another alternator to the system and both fed into the one battery.
2007 TDV8 Range Rover Lux
2009 2.7 Discovery 4
Posts: 3523
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:27 am
Location: Fairfield,Sydney

Post by pongo »

I been running 2 alt into 1 battery no probs. they run seperate exciter wires. Volt gauge runs a bit funny, but the std alt couldnt keep up driving at night with the thermos, lights, etc but with the 2nd alt on the fridge will run flat out for 4 days and still start the diesel engine no prbs when i set camp, compared to previously getting half a day before the fridge would stop working due to flat battery
Posts: 1383
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 8:12 pm
Location: Newcastle

Post by oldmate »

I've seen one run 2 alternators when the factory job was a 24 volt system. so running the standard 24 volt system, and a 12 volt alternator for various accessories. (it was a riced up patrol import :roll: )

If your only concern is breaking one in the bush then i'd start carrying a spare alternator in the back.

Fact is the alternator is likely to wear out, or corrode due to water/mud ingest. Having a second plan-b alternator spinning and subject to the elements is not ideal for a backup system
The worst part about being told you have Alzheimer's, is that it doesn't just happen once.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests