My 51 amp Prestolite alternator may be dead as I believe it is the original one on the 1982 C30 (with 2 cyl Universal Diesel) that I purchased recently. I am thinking of installing a larger Prestolite (90 amp). usually more current needs larger wires. I wonder if the original wiring can handle the larger current output. Any thoughts and/or experiences are greatly appreciated.
Alternator
- Thread starter andy m
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Check this site
Check out this web site. Great info and good pricing. http://www.foleyengines.com/DDSK/DrDieselShopKink33.html
Check out this web site. Great info and good pricing. http://www.foleyengines.com/DDSK/DrDieselShopKink33.html
That's a good reference
You can spend $250 to $280 for an upgrade, or more than $300 for a new Balmar or for $120 you can do what we suggest here: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-electrical-system-upgrade-2.html More alternator output will require larger wires. Period. You also should consider running your output to the batteries instead of to th switch. You should also consider the horsepower draw of a larger alternator on your relatively small engine. You'll also need an external regulator for your new alternator. You could get a regulator with a "small engine" control mode, which would be a Balmar MaxCharge or equivalent. This would allow you to install a larger alternator but automatically reduce the output to avoid overloading your engine.
You can spend $250 to $280 for an upgrade, or more than $300 for a new Balmar or for $120 you can do what we suggest here: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-electrical-system-upgrade-2.html More alternator output will require larger wires. Period. You also should consider running your output to the batteries instead of to th switch. You should also consider the horsepower draw of a larger alternator on your relatively small engine. You'll also need an external regulator for your new alternator. You could get a regulator with a "small engine" control mode, which would be a Balmar MaxCharge or equivalent. This would allow you to install a larger alternator but automatically reduce the output to avoid overloading your engine.
I thought the same thing BUT
When I bought my 85 C30 I thought the alt. was not working too, but through much investigation and some help from a friend that understands electrical systems, we found: when the polarity switch on the panel is in the OFF position (which means the shore power is on) the alternator does NOT work. When I flip the polarity switch to ON (no shore power) the alternator works just fine. We used a meter connected to somewhere (he knew where) then when we flipped it back and forth he figured it out. I guess it is to protect the alternator from the shore power. Good Luck, Dean
When I bought my 85 C30 I thought the alt. was not working too, but through much investigation and some help from a friend that understands electrical systems, we found: when the polarity switch on the panel is in the OFF position (which means the shore power is on) the alternator does NOT work. When I flip the polarity switch to ON (no shore power) the alternator works just fine. We used a meter connected to somewhere (he knew where) then when we flipped it back and forth he figured it out. I guess it is to protect the alternator from the shore power. Good Luck, Dean
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