High Output Alternator : ?

[kpaske]

150amps has to help - but the question is how much of a difference will it really make?

I don't know if you guys have done this already, but before upgrading your alternator, you could try upgrading your wires. I have 1/0 gauge running between my alternator, battery, grounds, and my power distribution block and have little to no dimming (it's VERY slight) and only when pushing my audio system pretty hard. I've read about other folks with major dimming problems who've corrected it only by upgrading their wires. I imagine that better wires AND a better alternator could make a huge difference in some systems.

[driver3]

I have a new optima blue top... is the stock alternator not good enough? I'm having a hard time starting after only 2 months with the new battery... is this because of the alternator? Maybe I have a bad battery... ( I brought the battery camping, in another car, and the shovel head fell on it and connected the + and - and caused the top of the terminal to melt a bit, nothing serious.. but the car still started right up after, this was over a month ago.) think it may be the alt not enough to charge this battery?

[biju]

driver3,

I know just enough to be dangerous - so if I'm incorrect somebody please pipe up....

I don't see why our alts wouldn't be suffice under normal loads (including recharging any optima). Sounds like the battery took quite the bruising during your camping trip - so it's hard to tell, really, what long term damage might have happened.

I'm only upgrading my alt in an attempt to keep up with the new storage system (series of batteries). Anything the high output alt does beyond that is keen, and a bonus in my opinion.

I dunno. Can't we take batteries into the local auto center to get tested so we can see if they're holding a charge properly???

-biju.

[psychos2]

I have a new optima blue top... is the stock alternator not good enough? I'm having a hard time starting after only 2 months with the new battery... is this because of the alternator? Maybe I have a bad battery... ( I brought the battery camping, in another car, and the shovel head fell on it and connected the + and - and caused the top of the terminal to melt a bit, nothing serious.. but the car still started right up after, this was over a month ago.) think it may be the alt not enough to charge this battery?

The stock alt is enough to charge.I have a blue top in my vx and it is fine.There is a possibility you damaged it with the shovel.When you charge the optima battery they can only get up to a certain temp or you could damage the battery. If it melted the terminal it got pretty hot. shawn

[biju]

got the alternator today. smaller than I had expected, and I stand corrected - the beefier wire was not included with the order (my misunderstanding).

The bench test white papers are pretty cool though. Tells you what the output is at a bunch of different RPM's, etc...

One question to those who'd know: how do I tell if the alternator has a micro pulley as I was told it would? My understanding (which could very well be incorrect) was the pully is the six groove dealio where the belt attaches. Please school me. I need to be learned.

-biju.

[Ldub]

One question to those who'd know: how do I tell if the alternator has a micro pulley as I was told it would? Please school me. I need to be learned.

-biju.

Beej,

If it's a true micro pulley, you won't even be able to see it, even if you squint your one good eye (pirate reference) reaalll hard.

[biju]

I don't know if you guys have done this already, but before upgrading your alternator, you could try upgrading your wires. I have 1/0 gauge running between my alternator, battery, grounds, and my power distribution block and have little to no dimming (it's VERY slight) and only when pushing my audio system pretty hard. I've read about other folks with major dimming problems who've corrected it only by upgrading their wires. I imagine that better wires AND a better alternator could make a huge difference in some systems.

Good point, kpaske. Alterstart shipped me, for free, the upgraded cables to compliment the new alternator - so i'll be sure to install those at the same time. Although, I think their cables are only 4ga, and not 1/0ga - so maybe I'm better off doing the 1/0ga.... Hmmmm....

-biju.

[kpaske]

I think 4ga is the standard. 0 gauge is HUGE, and sort of a pain to work with, but I know I'll never have to upgrade it. Definitely go at least as large as your largest power wire - i.e. if you have 4 ga from the alternator to the battery, it would be pointless to have anything larger running to your components. Since I wanted 0 guage to my power distribution / fuse block, I had to go 0 gauge all the way to the source.

[pbkid]

yea im running 4ga with a 1.2 farad cap right now...planning on upgrading the cap soon to a 5 farad...and possibly a red top optima before winter really hits...