Uprated alternator

[Chris Evans001]

Due to being pretty sure my alternator is on it's last legs, I had a good chat with Alterstart today. They are a local small business to me in Devon who specialise in custom alternators.

I told them of my need of an alternator replacement for my Iveco Daily that would show a good output, even at low rpm so that I can get good supply of amps going to my BMS/b2b even at idle engine speed.

They are testing 3 alternators and producing reports on outputs at low rpm for a 120amp, 150amp and a 180amp alternator.
Once I receive the reports I'll post them here for discussion...

I only need 50 amp or so to run what I need but the important bit for me is if I can achieve that at idling engine speed.

As soon as I receive the info I'll put it here.

Chris

 

[wildebus]

Due to being pretty sure my alternator is on it's last legs, I had a good chat with Alterstart today. They are a local small business to me in Devon who specialise in custom alternators.

I told them of my need of an alternator replacement for my Iveco Daily that would show a good output, even at low rpm so that I can get good supply of amps going to my BMS/b2b even at idle engine speed.

They are testing 3 alternators and producing reports on outputs at low rpm for a 120amp, 150amp and a 180amp alternator.
Once I receive the reports I'll post them here for discussion...

I only need 50 amp or so to run what I need but the important bit for me is if I can achieve that at idling engine speed.

As soon as I receive the info I'll put it here.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Your message reminded me of a video I saw a while back from Charlie Sterling which I think was quite interesting. Worth watching while having a cuppa ....

 

[Chris Evans001]

Thanks for this. Useful.

Will wait for the test results to come back and then work out the pulley ratio.

 

[mistericeman]

Our transit Jumbo has a uprated alternator on it....
I can see 80amps even at tickover on the BM2 IF the batteries are down towards 50% depleted.

 

[Chris Evans001]

Our transit Jumbo has a uprated alternator on it....
I can see 80amps even at tickover on the BM2 IF the batteries are down towards 50% depleted.

Well that's exactly what I'm aiming for.

I could test my current alternator. I have a clamp meter but I can't think of a big enough load I could put on in the van to take a decent measurement.

I wonder if your uprated alternator has a different from the average pulley?

 

[wildebus]

Do you need it to deliver more that say 40A at tickover though when the B2B is rated at 30A. I would have thought the typical Alternator would be able to deliver that? (my 2003 LT Alternator can put out around >50A I think at idle and it is the standard unit as far as I know. (I was looking at upgrading it in fact but when I checked the level of the output I concluded there would be little point so will wait to do so if/when it fails).

 

[Chris Evans001]

Do you need it to deliver more that say 40A at tickover though when the B2B is rated at 30A. I would have thought the typical Alternator would be able to deliver that? (my 2003 LT Alternator can put out around >50A I think at idle and it is the standard unit as far as I know. (I was looking at upgrading it in fact but when I checked the level of the output I concluded there would be little point so will wait to do so if/when it fails).

No, if I could see 50amp on tick over I'd be happy.

I'm guessing 30 amp b2b, headlights, heated seats, blowers, head unit, amplifier and a few 5v devices wouldn't add up to more than 50 amp or so?

What's giving me the jitters a little is that I'm not even getting 14v out of the alternator at the moment and my starter battery, even though only a few months old doesn't seem to charge to much above 12.1 ISH volts. After being sat with the radio on for a short while, my voltmeter in the van drops down below 12v. I don't think it's very well!

 

[wildebus]

It does sound like it is on the way out I know a couple of times I have "killed" an alternator after fitting a split-charge as the extra load was the final straw!

FWIW, I have this clamp meter and find it very good. Works on DC and AC and is pretty inexpensive for the functionality
https://amzn.to/2JtDfmd

 

[Chris Evans001]

It does sound like it is on the way out I know a couple of times I have "killed" an alternator after fitting a split-charge as the extra load was the final straw!

FWIW, I have this clamp meter and find it very good. Works on DC and AC and is pretty inexpensive for the functionality
https://amzn.to/2JtDfmd

That's my concern is that I could finish the alternator off once the new Redarc kit arrives from you.

I have a clamp meter already, looks similar to yours actually.
My problem with testing with the clamp meter is getting a big enough load on the battery to get the alternator to fire up to full power... It has me a bit stumped really. Need something to put a really heavy drain on it for a few minutes.

 

[wildebus]

That's my concern is that I could finish the alternator off once the new Redarc kit arrives from you.

I have a clamp meter already, looks similar to yours actually.
My problem with testing with the clamp meter is getting a big enough load on the battery to get the alternator to fire up to full power... It has me a bit stumped really. Need something to put a really heavy drain on it for a few minutes.

a 500w load on the inverter will give around 43A.
Put the headlights on full beam and that will be nearly 10A.
If you have independant full and dipped beam, both on will be nearly 20A? (or put on dipped and use the flash to get both on for 10 seconds or so).
If you have a diesel heater, that will draw around 10A for the first few minutes.

can't think of any other significant items.

 

[trevskoda]

Just remember not to let a engine idle to long as it glasses the bore,engines are ment to work under load not idle.

 

[SquirrellCook]

Just remember not to let a engine idle to long as it glasses the bore,engines are ment to work under load not idle.

Not forgetting the damage to the valve train.

 

[Chris Evans001]

So, I have received some information back from Alterstart...

Awkwardly, the test sheet for the 110 amp Bosch unit is not of the same format as the others.

Also, I dont really understand how the rpm on the test rig compares to the rpm at the pulley of my vehicle.

Attached are the test reports for 3 different alternators suitable for my Iveco daily.

110amp, 150amp, 180amp.

Comments please!