kristopher_d

I just had a brain storm and haven't taken the time to investigate it seriously.

Rather than trying to make a different alternator work, and rather than going to dual alternator belts when you take off your air-pump, what if you ran dual alternators in parallel. If you can hook a stock alternor up to the airpump brackets, it should result in twice the current at teh same voltage. I expect this should be plenty for most applications. It shouldn't be a problem for the wiring, as long as you use the appropriate gauge wire for the current your various extras are drawing. Just a crazy idea that popped into my head. What do you guys think.

Obviously, if you're just replacing a bad Alternator, this is not the cost effective choice, but if you've got a working alternator, it might not be a bad idea. Plus, you'd have redundancy. One could fail, and you'd still be making juice.

TheTwinTurboRX-7

at twice the parasitic drag, adding back what you just took off by removing the air pump and the extra weight to boot.............

hypntyz7

No way. I actually tried this many years ago back when I was just getting into cars, and big stereos. We all know how shitty stock GM alternators are, and I had an s10 showtruck with a big comp. stereo. I took off my a/c comp and rigged in another alternator from a camaro there. The problem was that they will over charge...a LOT. Since all modern alternators have built in voltage regulators, they are both constantly correcting and adjusting for the overcharge. So what you wind up with is high voltage(over 15vdc) and a strong pulsing through the entire electrical system. High, low, about once per second. Not good. So then i went to a dual-battery setup and everything went well with that.

Really, on our cars, unless your into stereos, the stock one will work great. A series 5 or 6 alternator is a great upgrade. New battery cables, clean connections, a new, large battery, and a 90amp plus alterantor in good condition with good belts will charge up to 14-15vdc all day long. My upgrade to a s5 alternator on my 87 t2, in combination with battery adn 4 gauge wires with all new connectors and cleaned terminals(relocate to back hatch) gives me 15vdc at cruise in daytime, and 14vdc at cruise at night with all lights and accessories on. My battery holds about 13vdc overnight(I have a digital LED voltmeter in the hatch too). Just ovrhaul your stock system and it is more than all you can ask for.

DriftinJim

iTrader: (24)

BTW, Wal-mart sells pre-crimped battery wires for like $4 each. Perfect to add an extra ground for the battery and maybe run one from the battery to the alternator post. Upgrading both wires will help you greatly. Measure the wires 1st, tho.

NZConvertible

I've seen a few pics of this done to various types of cars (even an FC), so there must be a way to overcome the overcharging problems. But like Kevin said, it's probably overkill unless you have a really serious stereo. Our cars just don't need 140A (two 70A S4 alternators) unless you're adding stuff a bit more serious than an electric fan. Plus an S5 or FD alternator with a dual belt pulley is way easier.

kristopher_d

I'm adding lots of extra electronics (nav, comm, traffic fine avoidance systems, etc, plus upgraded ignition, and of course, e-fan). I know the stock alternator wont handle everything I'm adding all that well, and yes, I'm in the process of adding amps to my stereo as well, not used when driving hard, so less load on the engine.

DriftinJim,
Did you wire those alternator is parallel, or series? Parellel shouldn't have resulted in any increased voltage, series, on the other hand should have sent it off the chart.