is there a way to juice up my alternator?

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Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=71011
Printed Date: May 18, 2024 at 6:07 AM

Topic: is there a way to juice up my alternator?

Posted By: thegoose
Subject: is there a way to juice up my alternator?
Date Posted: January 17, 2006 at 10:29 PM

i have a 1990 chevy astro that i put some lights on it and its draining on the alt. is there a way to beef the alt. up? or do i need to buy another?

thanks thegoose

posted_image

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THE GOOSE

Replies:

Posted By: electrostatic
Date Posted: January 17, 2006 at 10:49 PM

more squirrels :)
no, seriously. have you done the big 3? start there.

Posted By: thegoose
Date Posted: January 17, 2006 at 11:20 PM

electrostatic wrote:

more squirrels :)
no, seriously. have you done the big 3? start there.

sorry im a newbie here - big 3 ???

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THE GOOSE

Posted By: EM12986
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 2:02 PM

https://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=007801

Check this out

Erik

Posted By: thegoose
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 2:50 PM

EM12986 wrote:

https://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=007801
Check this out
Erik

thanks for the link it was very helpful im going to try the BIG 3

thanks THEGOOSE

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THE GOOSE

Posted By: Mad Scientists
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 6:53 PM

Assuming each light is drawing around 5 amps, you have 30 amps right there. Before I worried about the Big 3 I'd take some voltage measurements... measure some voltage drops. That's all the Big 3 fixes.. voltage drops. I think you're overworking the alternator. GM has a TSB out about draining the battery at idle with lots of accessories running. They consider it normal and not a problem if the battery draws down when sitting at idle with the headlights, wipers, defrosters, etc running. At idle the alternator can't keep up.

Jim

Posted By: thegoose
Date Posted: January 18, 2006 at 7:06 PM

Mad Scientists wrote:

Assuming each light is drawing around 5 amps, you have 30 amps right there. Before I worried about the Big 3 I'd take some voltage measurements... measure some voltage drops. That's all the Big 3 fixes.. voltage drops. I think you're overworking the alternator. GM has a TSB out about draining the battery at idle with lots of accessories running. They consider it normal and not a problem if the battery draws down when sitting at idle with the headlights, wipers, defrosters, etc running. At idle the alternator can't keep up.
Jim

THAnKS FOR THE INFO! I WASNT REALLY CONSERNED ABOUT THE DRAW FROM THE LIGHTS UNTIL I PLUGED MY TRAILER LIGHTS IN. IT REALLY MADE THE GUAGE DROP AND THE EVERYTHING DIMMED. SO I THOUGHT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO GIVE IT MORE JUICE (besides a new bigger alt.) I WOULD.

THANKS THEGOOSE

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THE GOOSE