need alternator
- Thread starter skyway
- Start date
The more amperage an alternator is asked by the battery to put out, the more load it places on the engine
A slight engine RPM drop when turning electrical items on is perfectly normal
This is the swings and roundabouts of power saving vs loss of electric radiator fan/electric water pump/leisure battery/night suns etc.:I
A slight engine RPM drop when turning electrical items on is perfectly normal
This is the swings and roundabouts of power saving vs loss of electric radiator fan/electric water pump/leisure battery/night suns etc.:I
The original alternator was a 40 amp unit and has does the job fine on a standard set up, but on a dark rainy night when the lights, wipers and heater are all working hard you could do with some extra umph. Go for a bigger one and watch those wipers swing and the lights stay bright(ish) I've got an 80 amp unit and it feeds all my extras easily
Two's company
Two's company
Jon
0
quote:
Originally posted by skyway
sorry i am thick as to planks when it come to this type of thing
So the alternater thats on the link up to will fit?? and what should i go for amp s?? i am running a split charge two batterys ?
If you go for a 130amp you could add an invertor to for 240v electrics off the 12v vehicle system. As long as you run the engine when running 240v you will have pleanty of power
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Originally posted by skyway
sorry i am thick as to planks when it come to this type of thing
So the alternater thats on the link up to will fit?? and what should i go for amp s?? i am running a split charge two batterys ?
If you go for a 130amp you could add an invertor to for 240v electrics off the 12v vehicle system. As long as you run the engine when running 240v you will have pleanty of power
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!
Original units IIRC were ACR Lucas Units. There are many later alternators with the same 3 terminal plug > I've used a new Lucas 70 amp unit originally for a Ford to replace a 16ACR and thats fine in service. Important though to upgrade the output wire from Alternator to battery as the wire that takes 40 amps is overloaded if you put even 55 amps down it and overloaded wires get HOT!
As a Rootes fan I'd look to using bigger alternator from later Avengers and Hunters [Hunter has same engine block as Commers] espec the GLS models that had previously used 16ACR or 17 ACR units. These cars had extra electrical equipment so needed extra electrical power and IIRC these later alternators gave 55 or 70 amps and probably fit original mountings
As a Rootes fan I'd look to using bigger alternator from later Avengers and Hunters [Hunter has same engine block as Commers] espec the GLS models that had previously used 16ACR or 17 ACR units. These cars had extra electrical equipment so needed extra electrical power and IIRC these later alternators gave 55 or 70 amps and probably fit original mountings
I think I'm safe in saying that the system will only draw the amps it requires, if you fit a 55amp alternator and you are only running the standard electrical equipment then they will only draw whatever they did when the standard alternator was fitted. The split relay you are going to fit will only take a trickle so you should be safe, I guess the problem would come if you fitted lots of other items that would load the system up, if anyone disagrees please comment.
Saying that I've got an 80 amp alti and run electric fan, electric water pump, halogen headlights, air horns and a split charger on the standard wiring, when the fan cuts in (the biggest load on the system) the ameter kicks round but settles out at about 35 amps - so far so good:I I think I'd better check the wires when everything is running.
Two's company
Saying that I've got an 80 amp alti and run electric fan, electric water pump, halogen headlights, air horns and a split charger on the standard wiring, when the fan cuts in (the biggest load on the system) the ameter kicks round but settles out at about 35 amps - so far so good:I I think I'd better check the wires when everything is running.
Two's company
quote:
Originally posted by Jon
As long as its a left hand mounted alternator you can fit what ever you like ive got 130amp isuzu trooper on on mine
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[:0]130amp! Fantastic. had no idea you could uprate so far from standard. have to admit with the standard alternator it does worry me a bit, especially on shorter drives where I've got the wipers, lights and heater blowing all at once and the needle on the ammeter is hovering around the 12v mark. Not a lot of charge left over getting to that poor old battery! I'll be getting meself a bigger one of them.
Originally posted by Jon
As long as its a left hand mounted alternator you can fit what ever you like ive got 130amp isuzu trooper on on mine
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!
[:0]130amp! Fantastic. had no idea you could uprate so far from standard. have to admit with the standard alternator it does worry me a bit, especially on shorter drives where I've got the wipers, lights and heater blowing all at once and the needle on the ammeter is hovering around the 12v mark. Not a lot of charge left over getting to that poor old battery! I'll be getting meself a bigger one of them.
I find an 80 amp is plenty. Those dark wet nights when the lights are on, the wipers are running and the fan cutting in on a big hill - the volt meter stays well into the green and the wipers actually sweep the screen at a brisk pace[8D]
Nowt wrong with having a bit in reserve though
Two's company
Nowt wrong with having a bit in reserve though
Two's company
Jon
0
quote:
Originally posted by skyway
i was going to fit it day after next but now you say about the wire no being safe ???? where can i get a bigger wire is this needed on a 55 amp one ??
Here is my alternator I fitted its massive!
powers everthing a treat. Its when you start running the fridge with all the other electrical things like wipers and stuff i noticed a drop with the old alternator.But not anymore,its just updating things to the modern world again to prevent failure and breakdown! I will say one thing though the bigger you go,you relly need to drill the threads out on the alt bracket and use nuts and bolts if yours is the threaded type bracket,but only if you go as big as i have
When I fitted mine I used the power lead out of a decet amp wiring kit as it will take a good flow of current.
Like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Kit-Amplifier-AMP-Wiring-Fuse-Audio-Sound-Cable-U3-/260826744880?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3cba7c4830
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!
Originally posted by skyway
i was going to fit it day after next but now you say about the wire no being safe ???? where can i get a bigger wire is this needed on a 55 amp one ??
Here is my alternator I fitted its massive!
powers everthing a treat. Its when you start running the fridge with all the other electrical things like wipers and stuff i noticed a drop with the old alternator.But not anymore,its just updating things to the modern world again to prevent failure and breakdown! I will say one thing though the bigger you go,you relly need to drill the threads out on the alt bracket and use nuts and bolts if yours is the threaded type bracket,but only if you go as big as i have
When I fitted mine I used the power lead out of a decet amp wiring kit as it will take a good flow of current.
Like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Kit-Amplifier-AMP-Wiring-Fuse-Audio-Sound-Cable-U3-/260826744880?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3cba7c4830
A commer with boost will be appering on a screen near you soon!