Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> Alternator w/ internal regulator, Is an upgrade possible?
davesprinkle
post Jul 20 2008, 03:07 PM
Post #1


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 720
Joined: 13-October 04
From: Berkeley, CA
Member No.: 2,943
Region Association: None
Is it possible to upgrade the stock 914/4 alternator for a unit with a built-in regulator?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
Replies(1 - 9)
ArtechnikA
post Jul 20 2008, 03:45 PM
Post #2


rich herzog
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 7,390
Joined: 4-April 03
From: Salted Roads, PA
Member No.: 513
Region Association: None
QUOTE(davesprinkle @ Jul 20 2008, 05:07 PM) *

Is it possible to upgrade the stock 914/4 alternator for a unit with a built-in regulator?

Anything is possible with enough time, effort and money.

The regulator is not your issue. The issue is there's not much space for anything putting out many more amps. (There are some uprated alternators, but it's not a huge increase, and they still use external regulators.)

Regulators are typically pretty trouble-free, so - what problem are you trying to solve - really ?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ericread
post Jul 20 2008, 04:22 PM
Post #3


The Viper Blue 914
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,177
Joined: 7-December 07
From: Irvine, CA (The OC)
Member No.: 8,432
Region Association: Southern California
Last summer I finally replaced the internal-VR generator that had been installed by the PO with an original setup (stock generator and external VR). It solved a number of problems I had been having with my voltage/recharging system. The internal device had been causing over-voltage and non-charging problems.

Sure, if you really analyze the electrical system you can probably swap out the stock system with a modern system. It will involve some wiring changes, but why? My 35 year old generator and external VR works for me every day. I use my car as a daily driver and put over 15,000 miles a year on it, and I haven't had an electrical problem since I returned it to the stock system.

Eric Read
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Jul 20 2008, 05:13 PM
Post #4


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
There is a solid state regulator that will attach in the stock location and hook directly to the relay board without mods, out of the box. Alternator technology has not changed AFAIK, only the regulator technology. This solid state unit will bring you up to date.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
914Sixer
post Jul 20 2008, 05:24 PM
Post #5


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,892
Joined: 17-January 05
From: San Angelo Texas
Member No.: 3,457
Region Association: Southwest Region
The NEW Bosch ones are solid state and has new suspressors in them the old ones do not. They are about 1" shorter. About $45 depending on where you get it.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
hcdmueller
post Jul 20 2008, 05:59 PM
Post #6


?????????????
***

Group: Members
Posts: 542
Joined: 4-February 06
From: UK
Member No.: 5,527
Region Association: England
I have been trying to find a bosch alternator from another vehicle with a higher output to fit in the stock location. The problem is the physical dimensions of the alternator itself. The stock alternator does not sit as deep as newer bosch alternators from other vehicles.

The wiring for an internally regulated alternator is supposed to be easy. I have been told from another board member that the reference wire from the alternator plugs into the D+ on the relay board and just remove the external regulator.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ArtechnikA
post Jul 20 2008, 07:08 PM
Post #7


rich herzog
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 7,390
Joined: 4-April 03
From: Salted Roads, PA
Member No.: 513
Region Association: None
QUOTE(hcdmueller @ Jul 20 2008, 07:59 PM) *

I have been trying to find a bosch alternator from another vehicle with a higher output to fit in the stock location. The problem is the physical dimensions of the alternator itself. The stock alternator does not sit as deep as newer bosch alternators from other vehicles.

And you hope to make more room in the alternator mounting location by putting -more- parts in there ? not gonna happen...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
davesprinkle
post Jul 20 2008, 08:45 PM
Post #8


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 720
Joined: 13-October 04
From: Berkeley, CA
Member No.: 2,943
Region Association: None
QUOTE(ArtechnikA @ Jul 20 2008, 02:45 PM) *

QUOTE(davesprinkle @ Jul 20 2008, 05:07 PM) *

Is it possible to upgrade the stock 914/4 alternator for a unit with a built-in regulator?

Anything is possible with enough time, effort and money.

The regulator is not your issue. The issue is there's not much space for anything putting out many more amps. (There are some uprated alternators, but it's not a huge increase, and they still use external regulators.)

Regulators are typically pretty trouble-free, so - what problem are you trying to solve - really ?


I'm not attempting to solve a problem; I'm just curious.

The only issue I've got with the stock charging system is that the charging voltage drops from ~14V to ~12.5V as engine bay temps climb. (The battery has never gone flat, but 12.5V is marginal.) I suspect that a new reg would fix the problem. Hence my inquiry.

I'll get a new reg.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Jul 20 2008, 10:20 PM
Post #9


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,658
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(davesprinkle @ Jul 20 2008, 01:07 PM) *

Is it possible to upgrade the stock 914/4 alternator for a unit with a built-in regulator?

just get a 3.6L /6 engine ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Andy
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
markb
post Jul 20 2008, 10:53 PM
Post #10


914less :(
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,449
Joined: 22-January 03
From: Nipomo, CA
Member No.: 180
Region Association: Central California
I have a local guy who rebuilds alts working on an 85 - 95 amp alt for me. Once it's in the car, I'll see how it does, & see if more can be made & how much $$.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Switch to: Standard · Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 27th May 2024 - 05:15 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...