Alternator Help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Alternator Help (scorciae)
Summit has an alternator part number PWM-17294, that is $119.00, it can be hooked up either as single wire or 3 wire alternator. It puts out 70 amps at idle and 105 at 2000 rpm. It should be enough to power your equipment unless you're running a really big stereo system.
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Re: Alternator Help (Smokehouse69)
This site is awsome.. Last night I went to go for a ride and my battery was dead.. I'm thinking new battery, alternator, short when redoing the interior and whola.. alternator help! I've been starting the car over the winter and letting it idle.. Figured I was charging the battery and keeping things moving.. I just read in the archives that some alternators don't charge at idle. How can I tell if I have a one, two or three wire alternator. Just look at it? Will I see a one, two or three wire plug connecting to it? I have one wire connecting to the battery but I guess I'll have that one with either setup. If I hood up a meter to the battery should I be able to see an increase in volts?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Texas
Re: Alternator Help (Koz)
Alternators are designed to charge at idle. They use a three phase rectfied wave to produce a higher voltage at idle than the old generators. Your alternator should be producing at least 13+ volts at idle. The amperage rating is the amount of current the alternator is capable of delivering. It does not force feed the electrical system.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: Alternator Help (Koz)
Koz
All stock GM alternators are 3 wire, 2 small wires on a plug and 1-thick red wire held on by a small nut. Your alternator should easily charge your batt at idle. I would not recommend what you were doing, starting your engine in the winter just to try and charge the battery, make no sense Buy a small 10 amp charger and use that. As far as 1-wire alternators most of the hot rod guys like using those they look nicer because of fewer wires, One drawback to 1 wire alternators they need at least 1200 RPM to start charging the Batt. If you want a i wire alternator you can buy that and install it in the same way, just hook-up the thick red wire and tape the other to wires not needed
All stock GM alternators are 3 wire, 2 small wires on a plug and 1-thick red wire held on by a small nut. Your alternator should easily charge your batt at idle. I would not recommend what you were doing, starting your engine in the winter just to try and charge the battery, make no sense Buy a small 10 amp charger and use that. As far as 1-wire alternators most of the hot rod guys like using those they look nicer because of fewer wires, One drawback to 1 wire alternators they need at least 1200 RPM to start charging the Batt. If you want a i wire alternator you can buy that and install it in the same way, just hook-up the thick red wire and tape the other to wires not needed
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Posts: n/a
Re: Alternator Help (73-454)
Thanks for the advise.. I use a trickle charger now and then.. For most of the winter it's been on the boat battery. I just started the vette now and then.. like every other week and let her run for about 20 minutes just to lubricate everything. This worked fine all winter. I was working on the passenger side mirror and was opening and closing the window with just the key on and a couple days later.. no juice to start.. I put the battery on a full charger for a couple hours, used new nut's and bolts to connect the cables and a few weeks later she wouldn't start again.. The past couple days she's been on the trickle charger.. She started yesterday, she started this morning and if she starts after work today I'll feel a lot better.. (got the boat battery with me for backup just in case..)
