Alternator upgrade, Any Recomendations. ideas?
 

Well. I need a stronger alternator. I've atempted to upgrade to the later style alternator wich is 110 amps i belive and never quite followed threw as it was going to take more machining then i could do on my own.

Allready tried 2 other places for a custome built alternator but no replies. Anyone have any manufactures or ideas that have worked?
SmileWavy

Get the rotor rewound for the extra output. Easier and the only concern would be the whether the standard unit could get rid the extra heat generated from the higher output. Why do you need the extra output?

I asked they guy that i bought a rebuilt alternator from ( the one i was good, lesson leanred). The first reason for the upgrade is my headlight upgrade to 80/100w bulbs. 2nd will be the upgraded audio system i'm going to put in. I really dont need to upgrade but im an audio fanatic and i've already had a system and the new one will just sound tht much better with proper power.

Jaime,

Not sure if this holds true with the early but when I upgraded to the Ice Shark Light Kit a couple years back, one of the components was for the alternator. My memory is faded, you should be able to find a reference in old posts of his, but it bolted on the back and allowed me to adjust the output of the alternator. Ice Shark said that our alternators didn't quite supply enough power. This always seemed to be the case for me before as well since I could never seem to get the battery charged up. I haven't had any problems since and that is WITH the increased power going to the lights.

Good luck!

I'm running 110W bulbs in the front with an upgraded harness... 300W amp and sub.....and my alternator keeps up just fine... it's the older lower powered one...

if you're worried about the audio system, keep the amp.. install a large 1F capacitor.

Jaime,
Have you tried the guy across from the DMV on East Main? He is very knowledgeable. I'm sure he can do something for you. I've had a few alternators rebuilt by him and they last, unlike the autozone crap.

When I had my alternator rebuilt, I had an adjustable voltage regulator put on and set to 14.5 volts instead of 14 volts.

carefully check the gauge and condition of the wiring - porsche is NOTORIOUS for undersizing the wiring - increasing amperage increases load on the wire - any signs of wear or damage and you are headed for trouble

the main alternator cable is the biggest suspect - i would not increase the alternator without increasing the size of that cable

Yep that's who my current alternator is from and he basicaly said that 90 amps was about the max power he could get. We checked out on his databass what the diff was to the later style alternator 110-120 amps i forget but i actualy bought the alt bracket and alternator at pick-a-part and couldent modify it to fit without machining ( I had little time as its my daily driver).


Reply to all others. In Regards to the Unit on the back of the alternator. That was the Voltage Regulator and i got 3 of them from Transpo And i'll have to check again what i set my voltage to but it was around 14v i thhink i didnt want to go overboard

As far as the small gauge wire from the alternator to starter. I've upgraded all wiring from the alternator to the starter and all the way to the batter with 4 gauge with deff made a difference.

The capacitor idea. i got lazy and uninstalled it wich did help and that was before the alternator and 4 gauge upgrade.


I know it souds crazy but the amps i'm going to install is a 1500 watt Rms x1(minimum) sub amp and a 225 watt x 4 rms amp for highs ( minimum). Of coarse that too much power for such a small car but i like the look and the sound quality of extray power.


ANd i still havent had any responses from a company that will make hight output alternators... Were's the alternator gurus when you needs up :(

What exactly do you have to machine to make the other alternator work?
What you need is a Suburban. I know just the guy who has what you need. ;)

Jaime,

What happens if you adjust the output 'too high' ? Is there a definitive way to know how much output is tolerable versus too much?

after checking voltage with nothing on at operating temp with fans running, watch the voltmeter on the late ones or use a decent vm at the batt and ck voltages as you turn stuff on.

lights, hi beams, a/c, sound system, etc....

the more you see the voltage drop, the harder the alternator is working.

i'll see 14+ at start and as it warms up with fans a/c and stock radio, it'll drop to just under 14.

if you jack up the voltage with an adjustable vr, you're forcing the alternator to do more than intended and may shorten the life and higher voltages can kill the battery.

Peter,

If the regulator is set too high, it will cause the battery to lose it's liquid and the battery will be fried at that point as bearone2 suggested. 14 shouldn't be too high...you shouldn't go over 14.5 volts though. Put a voltmeter on your car after driving it for at least an hour and your battery will probably read 13.5 to 14.5 volts.

i'll have to check again but im not sure if im pushing over 14.5 volts on the regulator i think its maybe 14 b.c. i didn't want to go higher if i didnt need to.

as far as machining i need to machine the early alternator bracket down a little ways near were the later style alternator hits. Eather that or machine a peice of metal that will extend the alternator farther so as not to hit the early style braket with the later style alternator