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alternator amperage?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by JeepsRcool, Sep 25, 2006.

  1. Sep 25, 2006
    JeepsRcool

    JeepsRcool Member

    Garden Grove, CA
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    Aug 31, 2006
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    128
    i am rebuilding my 68 cj :v6: and was planning on having a winch, welder, on board air, aux lighting(5 hella lights maby more), dual batery, and i was wondering what amperage alt would power all that? i was liking this one i saw on summit http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PWM%2D57294&FROM=MG
    would the rated 140 amps power all that stuff?
    thanks in advanceR)
     
    JeepsRcool, Sep 25, 2006
    #1
  2. Sep 25, 2006
    dauntless_powered

    dauntless_powered SUB COB 2024 Sponsor

    Groton, CT
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    1,000,081
    i had a 160 amp gm 1 wire and i had about the same amount of stuff except on board air and welder as you mentioned on my 70' and i thought it was way overkill i like it though :)
     
    dauntless_powered, Sep 25, 2006
    #2
  3. Sep 25, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    The only way to know for sure is to add up all the amps that all that stuff consumes and see where you end up. Keeping in mind that you'll rarely use everything at once, but you'll want to be sure that the loads you put on the system in a given situation don't exceed the supply. You can get away with it for very short periods (big battery(s)) but in all, you'll want more supply than the demand requires.
     
    w3srl, Sep 25, 2006
    #3
  4. Sep 25, 2006
    JeepsRcool

    JeepsRcool Member

    Garden Grove, CA
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    Aug 31, 2006
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    128
    alright thanks guys so ill get to work on figuring out what kinda load ill be drawing max.
    thanksR)
     
    JeepsRcool, Sep 25, 2006
    #4
  5. Sep 25, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    timgr, Sep 25, 2006
    #5
  6. Sep 25, 2006
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    I'm a firm believer that those higher amp alternators just lead to overheating and premature failure. Think about it: When have you ever seen a race car try to do the day-in, day-out duties that jeeps do, such as producing low rpm (low fan speed) torque for hours at a time in the hot summer sun. Just because their windings are rated at mega amps doesn't mean the cooling is rated at that. I would try to get the smallest Delco unit that you think you could get away with. You can get a 103amp 12SI for $50 from FLAPS, and it will bolt right in.

    Are you sure you need 5 Hellas? Make sure you invest in some thick cables and heavy duty relays. (And a fire extinguisher)
     
    jayhawkclint, Sep 25, 2006
    #6
  7. Sep 25, 2006
    CD60

    CD60 Member

    Northern California
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    CD60, Sep 25, 2006
    #7
  8. Sep 25, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    I always love this sales gimmick, why would a race car need even remotely close to 140 amps, lets see they have an electric system for the motor and what? They have no lights dash or otherwise and no electric gauges, no fan, no fuel injection, heck the only other thing they have that I can think of is an in car radio. Your exotics have fuel injection and wipers and lights on the formula one cars and such but most race cars could get by with half of that 140 amp rating easily.
    Now jeepers and such thats different but thats not really Summit and some of the others market either.
     
    Mcruff, Sep 25, 2006
    #8
  9. Sep 25, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    2,706
    Yeh thats one thing I was thinking of. Umm how much do a coil and an MSD box draw?

    Also yeh 140amps at what RPM?
     
    mb82, Sep 25, 2006
    #9
  10. Sep 26, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    4,275
    Yeah, that and all the hype about a 1-wire alternator being better. Ok, so it's a little easier to wire up initially. You only do that once and then you're done. A garden-variety 3-wire is the SAME alternator wih a different regulator in it, at more than twice the price.

    Oh, and good luck finding a replacement 1-wire at some out-of-the-way FLAPS on a Sunday afternoon when you're stranded.... ;)
     
    w3srl, Sep 26, 2006
    #10
  11. Sep 26, 2006
    66cj5

    66cj5 Jeep with no name

    NorthWest Indiana
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    Sep 10, 2003
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    After My hipo 30si went out (on a Sunday evening), I went to a stock '90 Camero rear with My front cover, as the Camero mounts differently.
     
    66cj5, Sep 26, 2006
    #11
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