New Alternator

[pandos]

I want to replace my alternator, it is a 60a basic one bought 20 years ago in Spain from a car parts shop..

I have 250amps of agm house batts and 80 amp starter.

Any reason not to fit this basic hella unit as a replacement. I have no interest in updating any other parts of the system..(I will have 200w of solar, also) it claims 14v 70 amps..

( I plan to fit this and mothball the old one )

 

[yotter]

You do not say why you want to replace the 60A one. Fitting a 70A alternator will not necessarily charge your batteries faster without other modifications. Careful what you wish for.

 

[pandos]

Just changing it because it was abused by me a few years ago when I drilled out the mounting bolt, also it is pretty old and shabby and has had a hard life...(it wears the belt as it is not really true)

I just need the same thing again and the hella seemed a good make...

Not worried about quicker charging, I am relatively frugal with amps, all LEDs and a wind pilot...

Not wishing for anything extra, just don't want to buy something that is wrong, the 14v seemed odd...

 

[wonkywinch]

just don't want to buy something that is wrong, the 14v seemed odd...

That voltage is quite normal to go to the charging circuit on a 12v vehicle/vessel. Can you remove your existing pulley and fit it to that one? Are the mounting brackets the correct spacing for the engine mounts?

 

[William_H]

The car alternator often has a regulator built in to the back of the alternator. This will be factory set to regulate at a specific voltage. early alternators I think tended to regulate around 13.75 v while more modern ones regulate at a higher voltage I think possibly higher than 14v. Higher voltage tends to push more current in to batteries. In your original set up you may have a remote mounted regulator which may mean the proposed alternator will not suit so easily. Other wise it is jsut physical mount and pulley arrangements that matter. ol'will

 

[pandos]

No problem with mountings, they are the same.

The existing has a built in regulator, same as proposed. Pretty sure I'll get the pulley off or I'll be able to pick one up...

The 12v versus 14v was my only issue and the general quality of Hella now.

Pretty sure 13.8 was the voltage when engine running, and that is what my car operates at, I don't think I'd want that to become much more than 14.5

I think I'll put it on list of things to order from Auto Doc...

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Sandy]

In the past I have used The Starter Motor & Alternator Co in Plymouth. They give a good range of cross referenced part numbers, might be worth a browse. Naturally, since we left the know universe ordering will be a different matter.

My newish alternator kicks out 14.2 volts at the battery, according to Victron.

 

[pandos]

In the past I have used The Starter Motor & Alternator Co in Plymouth. They give a good range of cross referenced part numbers, might be worth a browse. Naturally, since we left the know universe ordering will be a different matter.

My newish alternator kicks out 14.2 volts at the battery, according to Victron.

Thanks for that...looks like they have a Valeo in the same spec. I'll have a better look later...

Luckily I have access to smuggling, so the B...thing, of which we dare not speak...does not deprive me of opportunities...

 

[Pete7]

In the past I have used The Starter Motor & Alternator Co in Plymouth. They give a good range of cross referenced part numbers, might be worth a browse. Naturally, since we left the know universe ordering will be a different matter.

My newish alternator kicks out 14.2 volts at the battery, according to Victron.

We replaced the old Volvo alternator with one from them as well. Its rated for 100A but at our cruising speed only produces 50A. This is down to the pulley sizes not spinning it fast enough. That compares with 40A with the old VP alternator. 50A is more than enough for our needs, but if not a change of pulley wheels would up the output.

Needed a borrowed impact wrench to get the pulley off the old alternator.

 

[pandos]

We replaced the old Volvo alternator with one from them as well. Its rated for 100A but at our cruising speed only produces 50A. This is down to the pulley sizes not spinning it fast enough. That compares with 40A with the old VP alternator. 50A is more than enough for our needs, but if not a change of pulley wheels would up the output.

Needed a borrowed impact wrench to get the pulley off the old alternator.

I have an impact wrench, and for the sake of a few quid maybe the extra amps would be worth it...it's a powerful enough engine so can't see that drawing the additional energy would make any material difference.

Do you have any idea of the manufacturer of the 100 amp unit..

I'd be happier with a known maker so parts would be easier to obtain if the need arose.

Perhaps I'll give them a call after the weekend..

 

[Sandy]

Thanks for that...looks like they have a Valeo in the same spec. I'll have a better look later...

Luckily I have access to smuggling, so the B...thing, of which we dare not speak...does not deprive me of opportunities...

Hopefully, I'll be visiting this year. 2023 was a wash out! PM me if you need supplies.

 

[Pete7]

Do you have any idea of the manufacturer of the 100 amp unit..

I'd be happier with a known maker so parts would be easier to obtain if the need arose.

No, looks like a fairly generic alternator. Since the last one still worked after 35 years, can't see me needing parts.

Pete

 

[Martin&Rene]

Just check where your rev-counter signal comes from. Is it from the alternator? in which case you need the same off a replacemnt.

 

[pandos]

Just check where your rev-counter signal comes from. Is it from the alternator? in which case you need the same off a replacemnt.

Thanks for that thought, rev counter comes from a separate sensor so that should be ok.