Easy tips

What does the plug on an alternator do?

What does the plug on an alternator do?

Identify the third wire, which is typically two wires with a snap-in plastic connector on the alternator end. If the voltage rises above or falls below 12 Volts, the alternator’s internal voltage increases or reduces power output to maintain 12 Volts to the battery and the systems of the vehicle during operation.

What happens when I put 101 AMP on my alternator?

If you bring your load up to 101 amp, then the voltage in the system will drop below 12.8V because the extra 1 amp that is needed and not coming from the alternator will have to be stolen from the vehicle’s battery and hence the voltage will start dropping below the static battery level.

How to choose a high amp alternator for a headlamp?

In order to determine how much amperage a component is going to draw, you can divide its wattage by the voltage of the system. So basic 50-watt headlamps are only going to pull maybe 4A (50W / 13.5V), even if your big amp is drawing many times more than that. Do You Really Need a High Amp Alternator?

Can a 100 amp alternator be used in a 200 amp car?

For example, you may have a 100 amp alternator in your vehicle and the turn signals have small wiring and will only use 10 amp of power. Upgrading to a 200 amp alternator will not affect these components. On externally regulated alternators you can still use the stock factory regulator.

Which is the best charge wire for a high output alternator?

High-output alternators (greater than 100 amp) need a minimum of an 8-or-larger gauge charge wire to reduce resistance. The bottom wire is AWG 12, the middle is AWG 10, and the largest is AWG 6. The largest is always better (although clunky in appearance) for minimal resistance for alternators putting out more than 100 amps.

If you bring your load up to 101 amp, then the voltage in the system will drop below 12.8V because the extra 1 amp that is needed and not coming from the alternator will have to be stolen from the vehicle’s battery and hence the voltage will start dropping below the static battery level.

In order to determine how much amperage a component is going to draw, you can divide its wattage by the voltage of the system. So basic 50-watt headlamps are only going to pull maybe 4A (50W / 13.5V), even if your big amp is drawing many times more than that. Do You Really Need a High Amp Alternator?

For example, you may have a 100 amp alternator in your vehicle and the turn signals have small wiring and will only use 10 amp of power. Upgrading to a 200 amp alternator will not affect these components. On externally regulated alternators you can still use the stock factory regulator.

Can a one wire alternator be used for a dash charger?

The one wire alternators cannot be used if you want to use a dash charging light. You would need to use the plug-in style regulator in order to complete the circuit to operate the light. How much amperage do I need? The alternator that was provided with your vehicle should handle all of its electrical needs as outfitted from the factory.

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Ruth Doyle