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increasing alternator output
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:04 pm
by AZZA'S HJ47
hi all i have a old 40 that i am restoring and will be using for touring does anybody know of anybody that does alternator rewinds to increase the amperage of the alernator and what bucks i will be looking at.
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:25 pm
by HotFourOk
What motor are you running? You may be able to buy a higher output alternator for that motor, or use one off another to suit.
If its petrol, try to run a newer style alt like in commodore, etc.
If its diesel, and needs a vac pump, try to match one up from a similar motor.
I used a 2H alt on my Rocky as it had a vac pump and the bolt holes lined up spot on. Its rated at 80A, and the graph shows max output of 100A.
When I looked around, most people did not want to touch any alternator rewinds, and ones who did were dearer than a new one anyway.
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:32 pm
by matto
when you say restore do you want to keep it original or do you just want it to work well.
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:30 pm
by AZZA'S HJ47
its a 2h diesel and am restoring it to a say optomised sate running ac and power steering 100amp is what ive got need more for running lights, fridge, dual batterys my mate recond shove a second alternator on the car but i have run out of room to fit more items.also put on a denco turbo kit to give it a kick in guts along side a complete motor rebuild
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:47 pm
by chunks
I'm also interested in this i'm doing a similiar thing to my 60, what the standard alternator rated at i have a feeling its actually pretty low?
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:29 am
by AZZA'S HJ47
its actually 50 amps and above a mate of mine rebuilds them for a job but doesn't rewind them
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:25 pm
by HotFourOk
I bought a brand enw alternator for a 2H Cruiser and used it on my Rocky.
Its rated at 80A, but the graph included with the unit shows it outputs 100A at full load.
Unless you are running a winch setup, that would be plenty of power. I have heaps of accessories plus a 9000lb winch and it works great.
This is the one I bought and its been working great ever since.
eBay link to 80A unit
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:21 am
by Guy
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:its a 2h diesel and am restoring it to a say optomised sate running ac and power steering 100amp is what ive got need more for running lights, fridge, dual batterys my mate recond shove a second alternator on the car but i have run out of room to fit more items.also put on a denco turbo kit to give it a kick in guts along side a complete motor rebuild
Wow .. they must be some bloody big lights to need an alt in excess of 100amps on an old school diesal.
The recharge rate of the batteries is quite low (unless you have very high quality batteries like optima's or similar) If your able to pump more than 10 to 20 amps back into them at 14.4 your doing very well.
How did you come to the conclusion that you needed a very large alt ? Do you know the current draw of the accesories you have at the moment ?
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:47 pm
by AZZA'S HJ47
i dont know the current draw from these items yet however i do wish to have enough power to power all of these items and not have to worry about the car not starting the next morning, 100amps might cut it but more aint a bad thing
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:08 pm
by Reddo
stick a second alternator of your choice on it....(go for commodor - cheap, reliable and can get 80A plus for next to nothing from the wreckers), plenty of room in the engine bay, just a matter of making a mount and sorting a pully to drive it.
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:17 pm
by AZZA'S HJ47
no room redo got ps ac and a alternator i would if i could
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:21 pm
by MightyMouse
Bosch made a 150Amp unit... no idea what it was fitted to but it is definitely local ( I have a brand new one ). Have to do the mechanical adaption of course.
There are still some in stock from Bosch but there's not that many left and the price goes up as the stock goes down.
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:15 am
by AZZA'S HJ47
do you know where i could get one of these alternators
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:25 am
by HotFourOk
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:do you know where i could get one of these alternators
Why not get the one that bolts on for a 2H? Up to 100A will be PLENTY!
If you dont have a winch, you will NOT run out of juice.
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:48 pm
by rock hopper
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:do you know where i could get one of these alternators
i sell a alt to suit 80amp at 2000 rpm max 110amps and around 35 amps at idle
for around $400-00 .
i can freight aust wide ...
let me know if it's internal or external regulator
Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:20 am
by LuxyBoy
When i looked into it it was more expensive to rewind than buy a new unit and they did not guarantee an increased output
Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:39 pm
by khany427
give rocket industries a call, they do street machine/hot rod stuff.
they advertise "universal" alternaters up to 250amps (maybe higher) i guess they are more for comp stereo cars but hell just have to make up a new bracket to replace the old one.
i guess it also depends on if your current one has an oil/vacuum pump and what they have in regards to that aswell.
dont ask me what they are worth, got no idea, wouldnt be cheap though!
Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:48 pm
by MightyMouse
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:do you know where i could get one of these alternators
Any Bosch Service Agent will be able to source one for you...
If your serious I can get the part number off mine.
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:04 pm
by Guy
AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:i dont know the current draw from these items yet however i do wish to have enough power to power all of these items and not have to worry about the car not starting the next morning, 100amps might cut it but more aint a bad thing
Just trying to save you some $$ and fabrication issues, if you can get a pretty common 80amp Alt that will simply bolt in and do everything you need it to and spares are readily available at just about any wreckers in the country as opposed to a much higher output unit that requires custom wireing etc .. that if it poops its pants late on a friday arvo that you have no chance of replacing until monday at best .. there goes your weekend
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:44 pm
by chimpboy
love_mud wrote:AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:i dont know the current draw from these items yet however i do wish to have enough power to power all of these items and not have to worry about the car not starting the next morning, 100amps might cut it but more aint a bad thing
Just trying to save you some $$ and fabrication issues, if you can get a pretty common 80amp Alt that will simply bolt in and do everything you need it to and spares are readily available at just about any wreckers in the country as opposed to a much higher output unit that requires custom wireing etc .. that if it poops its pants late on a friday arvo that you have no chance of replacing until monday at best .. there goes your weekend
This is a fair call. Old cars used to get by with a 15A generator. Obviously cars these days need more, but 85A is really a fair bit of current to play with. It's 1200 watts of power, give or take. It's not impossible that you need more if you have enormous lighting requirements or something, but you should at least confirm that you need more. The right rating is the right rating, it's not something where you are going to benefit a lot by going higher.
Plus, in some cases the higher current alternators are going to put out LESS current at idle than their rating suggests. The engine needs to be revved up to get the full current. Not necessarily a good bet on a diesel.
Just something to think about.