Electrics: alternator alternative?

[Ron Kwas]

Tony;

The AMP indicator is not "measuring" voltage drop so much as indicating it when it occurs...and as I stated, some minor voltage drop is inherent and unavoidable (it must occur and is intended, by design across a fuse!), but when this increases due to (unintentional) corrosion or the other known causes at the Fuse Block, then a FB refurb is called for, and I offer these...it is good practice and recommended to install a refurbed FB to safely handle the increased currents available from an uprated Alt!

I have yet to hear of an electrical fire after an alt upgrade, and I wouldn't want you to be the first...not when all the weaknesses and areas which need attention are well known!!!

See related info about heat from voltage drops: http://www.sw-em.com/tech_bulletin_3.htm

PLEASE try use punctuation and grammatical breaks to make reading your posts simpler (and allow readers to occasionally breathe)...you know when you want the breaks because you wrote the post...but readers need these to know also, and the way we know is by your use of punctuation...

Cheers

[222s]

I strongly second Ron's comments about ensuring that the fuse box is in perfect order. When I replaced mine a few years back on his advice, it solved no end of weird electrical glitches.

[tony lewis]

[QUOTE=Ron Kwas;1207550]Tony;

The AMP indicator is not "measuring" voltage drop so much as indicating it when it occurs...and as I stated, some minor voltage drop is inherent and unavoidable (it must occur and is intended, by design across a fuse!), but when this increases due to (unintentional) corrosion or the other known causes at the Fuse Block, then a FB refurb is called for, and I offer these...it is good practice and recommended to install a refurbed FB to safely handle the increased currents available from an uprated Alt!

I have yet to hear of an electrical fire after an alt upgrade, and I wouldn't want you to be the first...not when all the weaknesses and areas which need attention are well known!!!

See related info about heat from voltage drops: http://www.sw-em.com/tech_bulletin_3.htm



i have already upgraded the fusebox to an 8 fuse modern blade arrangement.
this works great ,was hoping to continue the upgrades with 50a alternator up grade i realised the amp indicator light indicated volyage drop rather than measured it, sorry if it didnt come across properly in my ramble ,i left school a long time ago and dont write for a living......must try harder.....and am used to text speek etc and its a hard habit to break

[tony lewis]

if anyone has any more info the hitachi one has LT 150 22B7Z8 stamped on it
and a lucas sticker as well? LRA540 4 88 LEF

[Volvo Canadian]

Hi Tony,

(oops, I think I just posted - incomplete!!)

I just caught-up on the great debate. Interesting. I'm going to throw my two bits in.

• New fuse-box: good.
• Dim red light - not good, but now that you understand it does not mean your charging-system is cra*, that is good.
• I'm not sure if you are the type, but perhaps it would neutralize the feeling of the red light if you... installed a voltage guage?? (I'm not the type)
• Finally, I'm an electrical engineer, so therefore I apply the "you just have to be smarter than the hammer" rule to things electric. I WOULD try it. Carefully. You can take the cover off the v. reg. make sure you know which wires are which. Disconnect any fuses you can and keep the car running. Put on some safety-glasses (I only have one eye - essential). Then connect the wires one by one. 1) Earth, 2) battery pos., then the wire to excite the alternator. Seems to me the worst that can happen is you will need a new alternator, or maybe a new regulator - both of which you REALLY want anyway! If you don't know which terminal is which, I'm sure the local repair shop can tell you.
  
  There - that's my two bits, and bye-the-way, my car drove from the Atlantic to the Pacifie (twice) after restoring my estate MYSELF.