Alternator upping amperage suggestions, I already up'd to 75 amps... not enough. |
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Alternator upping amperage suggestions, I already up'd to 75 amps... not enough. |
pnewman |
Aug 18 2012, 10:08 PM
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#21
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Member Group: Members Posts: 371 Joined: 15-February 05 From: Lincolnshire, IL Member No.: 3,606 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Ok Ok Ok.
I have to many gadgets in my car for a 75 amp alternator to support. They all work great but they are pigs: Heated seats high power stereo Sub woofer w/ amp HID headlights windshield washer pump Interior / map lights in rear view mirror etc. So I have a seperate circuit and an electrical sub-panel to support the load safely but simply put: "I need more power Scotty!" Took my old 50 amp Bosch to an alternator / starter rebuilder and after looking at it a bit they recommended the AC Delco 100 / 105+ amp single wire alternator with integral regulator for $110 rebuilt. He stated that it could run the dash idiot light too. Not quite ready to bypass the voltage regulator etc. I am sure this mod is probably old hat for some. Thoughts? Thanks in advance, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) Pete |
Mike Bellis |
Aug 19 2012, 09:30 AM
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#22
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Resident Electrician Group: Members Posts: 8,345 Joined: 22-June 09 From: Midlothian TX Member No.: 10,496 Region Association: None |
I think you should go with the GM alternator. I run a GM style Powermaster 180 Amp unit. There is no advantage to keeping the stock VR unless you intend to concourse the car.
Biggest upgrade for the buck is up sizing all wires. I run a #2 charge wire and have upgraded all grounds. I bet your stereo wiring is bigger than most of the stock 914 wiring. Add extra grounds, bigger wire. Add a ground from the alternator to the battery. If your amplifier has a 20 amp fuse, that means it can take spikes of current up to 20 amps. The factory alternator charge wire is a #8. This is barely adequate for 20 amps of DC current. The car battery acts like a buffer, not allowing all that current into the battery at one time to recharge. This is mostly due to internal resistance. Your amplifier need instant current flow. Here is the advantage of a charging capcitor. The cap will charge and discharge instantly to help out. Most people do not realize that DC current takes a bigger conductor than AC current. Because of this, most will quote AC amperage charts. The world realized this and chose Tesla's AC power over Edison's DC power. Edison needed a 4" diameter conductor to push DC down a single block of homes. Tesla only needed a 1/4" conductor for the same distance with AC power. When I was manager at a car stereo shop (and master installer), we would use #8 amplifier wires at a minimum. We also upgraded the ground from battery to chassis and battery to engine block. This worked well for night time headlight dimming problems. The wiring and chassis on your 914 is old, rusty and corroded after 40 years. The wiring has reached its life span. The unit body is now grounded through rusty metal and spot welds. Start with upgrading your wiring first. |
dlestep |
Aug 22 2012, 02:12 PM
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#23
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I am smilin'... Group: Members Posts: 890 Joined: 15-January 08 From: Sunrise Florida Member No.: 8,573 Region Association: South East States |
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ArtechnikA |
Aug 22 2012, 02:16 PM
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#24
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rich herzog Group: Members Posts: 7,390 Joined: 4-April 03 From: Salted Roads, PA Member No.: 513 Region Association: None |
The world realized this and chose Tesla's AC power over Edison's DC power. Not to be nerdy, but don't you have that backwards. In the words of Al 'White and Nerdy' Yankovich - No. Tesla and Westinghouse put AC on the map. Edison championed DC and - well - he's famous for other stuff... |
dlestep |
Aug 22 2012, 07:24 PM
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#25
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I am smilin'... Group: Members Posts: 890 Joined: 15-January 08 From: Sunrise Florida Member No.: 8,573 Region Association: South East States |
The world realized this and chose Tesla's AC power over Edison's DC power. Not to be nerdy, but don't you have that backwards. In the words of Al 'White and Nerdy' Yankovich - No. Tesla and Westinghouse put AC on the map. Edison championed DC and - well - he's famous for other stuff... You are most certainly correct ! I had it backwards...ha ! |
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