Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I've got standard headlights, 2 x Lightforce 170 spotties (100W ea), 25W UHF and a 200W stereo driving 2 x 5" front speakers that shouldn't be more than say 30W each peak. Will be getting a Projecta Typhoon (150psi, 150L/m, 45A max) air compressor for sand work etc.

Currently just have the standard alternator which my manual states is 45A (? correct ?) and the standard 45Ah starting battery. Am likely to be doing camping trips up to a week long running LED outside lights (5W total?), my notebook (90W) and possibly stereo (low volume) at night. No fridge or winch in the near future.

Will likely buy a small gel cell to run night time accessories and build it into my shelves - 45 or 60Wh to keep weight and size down. Plus an isolator / charging system.

Based on the above, I should be drawing around say 25A during the day (stereo + notebook + UHF), and 45A at night. So about 20A charging current during daylight and zip if wheeling at night with everything on. Compressor will take full 45A by itself.

Does this setup sound reasonable? Or do I need to upgrade the standard alternator as per built4thrashings thread? I'm putting the engine back in this week so would rather do it now than later.

Cheers,
Tim

you could run a 2nd battery, and run accessories off that at night isolated from the "main" battery which is connected to the engine... this way if you do happen to drain the battery, itll charge over the days driving anyway.

a lot of people do up the size of the alternator though - i believe there is info in the bible on which models are bolt on...

Just upgrade the alternator. You won't regret it.

Gwagensteve wrote:Just upgrade the alternator. You won't regret it.

Yep.. EF Falcon.. $50 well spent...
For the sake of a couple of extra dollars go a bigger second battery too.
When you start running extra loads (out in the bush) its reassuring to KNOW you have plenty of power.

Might be overkill for you but this is mine.
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... highlight=

Good ideas with the battery mount want33s but I want to be able to fit rear seats sometimes and don't have a BL to fit it under the front passenger seat. Will have a look and a think about other locations with a low CG.

Are the EF/EL Falcon alternators up to the abuse of water crossings etc? Given that I won't be drawing anywhere near the 100/110A that the EF/EL alternators are rated for, can I get away with the standard Suzuki V-belt? My main issue with fitting the Falcon alternator is that I have aircon so there's no easy way of going to multigroove........

You'vr got it a bit wrong - The battery will accept as much amperage as the alternator can deliver - example - you have been cranking for a while to get the car to start, the batter is low, then the car catches. At that point, the alternator will be delivering 100A because the battery is low, but it won't be for very long. If you deeply discharge one battery in a dual battery setup, start on the main battery, then switch to charge the flat second battery, once again, you will be drawing everything the alternator can deliver until it charges up, once charged, you will be only charging at the rate you're using.

I have the 100A EL alternator and an optima red top on my 660, with a standard V belt and it's fine, but it will squeak the belt for a few seconds if I've been driving it on the key and battery is low.

As to water crossings - WATER is fine -alternators will run for days, even fully submerged. The problem is mud - mud destroys any alternator. Apparently, the bosch alternators in EA falcons are super tough as they had to cop all the power steer fluid overflow through them, however, that model of alternator is much harder to fit (i've tried) and has lower output.

I don't think there's anything special about a sierra alternator - It's shared with swift and baleno, so the EL alternator won't be any less durable, and cheaper to replace if you do stuff it.

Steve.

Thanks Steve, great clarification. Will chase down an EF/EL alternator Any tips on what alternator to scavenge a V pulley off? Or can they be bought aftermarket by themselves?

Moph wrote:Thanks Steve, great clarification. Will chase down an EF/EL alternator Any tips on what alternator to scavenge a V pulley off? Or can they be bought aftermarket by themselves?

I am a bit of a Falcon freak (I own an XBGT, XA ute, XA sedan) so I have lots of Falcon parts laying around.
I used an EF alt and removed the multi rib pulley.
I got a V-belt pulley off an XA six cylinder Bosch alt and a spacer ring out of an XA Email alt. Most Falcon alts run a 19mm shaft so these bits swap readily.
Your local auto electrician should have a BIG pile of dead alts laying around that you'd be able to pilfer a pulley and/or spacer out of.
The spacer I ended up using is about 4-5mm thick from memory.
I still run the original V-belt without a drama even in water.

Cheers mate ... ur info is awesome

Moph wrote:Cheers mate ... ur info is awesome

My pleasure mate.. A well thought out and constructed question will nearly always get a 'to the point', 'no nonsense' informative answer to your query.

I've got an 85 amp v8 holden alternator sitting in the shed, does anyone know if it'll fit up?

Good point want33's it was a good question, not:

annoying_newbie wrote: I have a 1.0 sierra and wont it go really fast I want electric supercharge like on ebay wot youse think

Gwagensteve wrote:Good point want33's it was a good question, not:

annoying_newbie wrote: I have a 1.0 sierra and wont it go really fast I want electric supercharge like on ebay wot youse think

hey, careful with your implications there steve ... who's the annoying_newbie?!? okay, okay, i'm a noob ... in a year of zooking i haven't rolled mine yet

Don't get your knickers in a knot Moph... Steves response will make more sense if you add 'like this' after 'not'.
A whole year and you haven't fallen over.. You aren't trying!!!!

LOL ... wasn't serious! And nope, haven't tried hard enough :( Need some better tracks around SA

*** If you're from Adelaide and know some decent tracks (rock/mud/gullies/steep/water crossings - NOT SAND) pleeeeeeeease let me know!! ***

Moph wrote:*** If you're from Adelaide and know some decent tracks (rock/mud/gullies/steep/water crossings - NOT SAND)

I understand sand isnt much fun, but it's better than mud...

I'm not even from Adelaide and I know where the decent tracks are.... They're all in Vic Bwahahaahhahahahahahahahahhahaha ooooh I cracke me up

Sorry, Steve.

Try the border track Moph.
Up near Pinnaroo, 2.5 hours run from Adelaide. Good fun. Don't do it alone.
Yep Steve, it's almost in Victoria....In fact, spit out the passengers window and it lands in Victoria.

Puk

No way Dee, I looooove mud Leave Pootrols and Landies far behind in some decent slosh, despite pretty basic mods.

Border track sounds perfect. Good offroading, and can spit on Vic ... perfect combination Have to try it grand final weekend maybe

Am planning to visit Vic high country 2009 some time with a group of mates.

'K, nuff non tech. Thanx for your help all.