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Generator Vs. Alternator

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Jmairz, Jan 21, 2008.

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  1. Jan 21, 2008
    Jmairz

    Jmairz Improvise-Adapt-Overcome

    The Big Mitten (...
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    Does anyone have an opinion on generator Vs. alternator power for the F 134? I've always been a fan of generators due to appearance, ease of rebuild etc. but since I'm doing a complete rewire, maybe it's time to upgrade. Any pro's or con's?
     
    Jmairz, Jan 21, 2008
    #1
  2. Jan 21, 2008
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I had my generator rebuilt and it worked for a little bit but it just didn't like me I guess. hasn't worked in the last 3+ years. Rebuilt it 3 1/2+ years ago;)
    Just put an alternator on it a couple weeks ago. Just a small gm one wire alt. I don't need much power out of it. Just enough to keep the battery charged in winter. No high powered welding here...


    Oh, I use it to plow snow in the winter and i have a hy-lo hydrolic pump that mounts to the top of the generator. I had to use another type of pump thats similar to a power steering pump. I had to rig up a bracket to mount it on the drivers side of the engine, but even that was worth it for me to get rid of the generator so i can have a fully charged battery.

    Guess it all comes down to if you want a correctly restored jeep, or something that works good for you.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2008
    termin8ed, Jan 21, 2008
    #2
  3. Jan 21, 2008
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    If you don't have accessories that can draw more current than a generator can supply, and would like to stay original then a generator will do you fine. A generator doesn't charge at idle and has less capacity than an alternator. Those are the major differences.
     
    Glenn, Jan 21, 2008
    #3
  4. Jan 21, 2008
    Jmairz

    Jmairz Improvise-Adapt-Overcome

    The Big Mitten (...
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    I don't even have a radio (or a place to put one) so maybe the generator will stay, in my humble opinion it looks so much better than an alternator.
     
    Jmairz, Jan 21, 2008
    #4
  5. Jan 21, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    I would ditch it in favor of an alternator
     
    blevisay, Jan 21, 2008
    #5
  6. Jan 21, 2008
    Hawk62cj5

    Hawk62cj5 Captain of OldSchool

    Brodnax Va.
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    I went with a alternator because if Im 300 miles away from home (or next door) and it went bad I can get one from ANY auto parts store for about 40 bucks or less.
     
    Hawk62cj5, Jan 21, 2008
    #6
  7. Jan 21, 2008
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    alternator is much better, but i am staying with the generator, my jeep rarely leavs the farm:beer: have alternator on it now, real handy when you need to jump something off
     
    kaiser_willys, Jan 21, 2008
    #7
  8. Jan 23, 2008
    cpt logger

    cpt logger Member

    Western Colorado
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    IMHO, Stay with the generator.
    1. You like it.
    2. You have no need for an alternator (low electric use, not much idle time).
    3. If you leave the lights on at the top of a hill and the battery is DEAD, you can still start it by pushing it down the hill in 2nd gear. (This will never work with an alternator). AMHIK.
    4. No need to "modifiy" your wiring harness.
    5. It looks good!
    Matt W.
     
    cpt logger, Jan 23, 2008
    #8
  9. Jan 23, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    3. If you leave the lights on at the top of a hill and the battery is DEAD, you can still start it by pushing it down the hill in 2nd gear. (This will never work with an alternator). AMHIK.


    How does this differ when using an alt?
     
    blevisay, Jan 23, 2008
    #9
  10. Jan 23, 2008
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    Wondering the same thing myself.
     
    mb82, Jan 23, 2008
    #10
  11. Jan 23, 2008
    lamar

    lamar Member

    greenville sc
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    an alt. needs some power to excite it to make power.a gen will make power from the begining.

    if battery is compleatly dead, an alternator powered vehicle will not push start a generator one will,
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2008
    lamar, Jan 23, 2008
    #11
  12. Jan 24, 2008
    Jmairz

    Jmairz Improvise-Adapt-Overcome

    The Big Mitten (...
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    I didn't know you can't push start an alternator. Would the engine turning over while in 2nd gear cause enough revolutions of the alternator to excite it's field?
    I have a hand crank but I haven't been stranded bad enough to ever use it.
     
    Jmairz, Jan 24, 2008
    #12
  13. Jan 24, 2008
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Really?
    Explain more please.
     
    blevisay, Jan 24, 2008
    #13
  14. Jan 24, 2008
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Sorry, I have done this several times, Heck I've even started them with no battery in the circuit.
    Motorcycles have been pushed started with an alternator for years. Honda hasn't put a kick starter on street motorcycles since 1981-82. I used to do it all the time, in fact I drove my 1983 Nighthawk for more than a month by pushing it off. Now fuel injected cars probably won't start.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2008
    Mcruff, Jan 24, 2008
    #14
  15. Jan 24, 2008
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The alternator has to turn fast enough to overcome the barrier potential in the diodes, but geez, that's 0.6V for silicon. I can't think of any other reason it would not be self-energizing. It's possible that a mechanical regulator connected to an alternator might not be self-energizing, but I don't think that's true for modern regulators.

    The only reason we had generators back in the day was because there weren't any semiconductors then.
     
    timgr, Jan 24, 2008
    #15
  16. Jan 24, 2008
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    Bumpstarted the Neon on two occasions so yes you can bumpstart a fuel injected car with a battery that won't even power the lights.
     
    mb82, Jan 24, 2008
    #16
  17. Jan 24, 2008
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Yup rolled the TJ off also...
     
    neptco19, Jan 24, 2008
    #17
  18. Jan 24, 2008
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    The hardest part on both occasions was the fact I was on loose gravel and I would lock the front tires for a second before they would spin and then turn the motor over. Nothing to do with EFI, more to do with the surface I was on.
     
    mb82, Jan 24, 2008
    #18
  19. Jan 24, 2008
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    when I first got the 6 back together I was messing w/ carb adj. and timing etc. I had a battery charger going to it, but couldn't get it to fire at one point (but had spark). I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out where the problem was. Neighbor comes over and says let it charge over night, you don't have enough charge in the battery for it to run. Next morn turn the key over and it fired right up. Don't know if bump starting would've worked for me the night before. Not sure how this fits here, but I've been worried ever since about what would happen on the trail if the battery got low.
    Jim S.
     
    bkd, Jan 24, 2008
    #19
  20. Jan 24, 2008
    Jmairz

    Jmairz Improvise-Adapt-Overcome

    The Big Mitten (...
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    Neighbor comes over and says let it charge over night, you don't have enough charge in the battery for it to run. Next morn turn the key over and it fired right up.

    I agree, up here in the great white north I've had a few batteries that went so dead the engine wouldn't run.
     
    Jmairz, Jan 24, 2008
    #20
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