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Do I need an altrnator?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Greevesman, Feb 3, 2015.

  1. Feb 3, 2015
    Greevesman

    Greevesman Member

    Napa, Ca
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    Stock 65 CJ-5 4 cyl with gernerator. Working fine. Do I need to switch to an alternator? Why, other than they are less expensive?
     
  2. Feb 3, 2015
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    An alternator charges at a lower speed. It's smaller, lighter, less expensive.
    That's why manufacturers changed to alternators.
    But, if your Jeep is stock and it's been working fine with the generator for 50 years I see no reason to change it.
     
  3. Feb 3, 2015
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    :iagree:

    Never felt any desire to give up generators. One advantage I have appreciated many times is that generators will give output even with a dead battery, allowing a bump start.

    The last alternator I bought came with a written warning that even charging a low battery could ruin it. Another sign of the apocalypse.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2015
  4. Feb 4, 2015
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    My first cj2a had a generator. It worked fine. I changed the regulator and put a 12 volt battery in it. I had no issues. 12 volts to the starter made it turn twice as fast, but I never burned it up. On the old regulators you could change the springs to make it charge more or less depending on the spring. old manual regulators. I couldnr figure it out then. I could now though.
     
  5. Feb 4, 2015
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
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    You only need to switch to an alternator if you are going to run and electric winch, or welder or one of those stupidly large stereo systems that can double for your guitar amp for that garage band concert you are giving next month.
     
  6. Feb 4, 2015
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
  7. Feb 4, 2015
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    If working fine then as others have said no need to change it. My wagon's generator does the job just fine.
     
  8. Feb 4, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Like said, if working well and the Jeep is stock, no real reason to switch. The two biggest advantages of alternators are the large amperage output available and IMO, more reliability. The Delco SI alternators last close to forever and are dirt cheap. Personally, I would not repair a defunct generator on a Jeep that wasn't a complete restoration. Cheaper to just put an alternator on it.
     
  9. Feb 4, 2015
    commanlerwrangdo

    commanlerwrangdo Member

    Cleveland, Ohio
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    I always stick with the ages-old adage......

    If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

    If and when the generator quits, an alternator could be installed in it's place. My 2 cents!;)
     
  10. Feb 4, 2015
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    You have got the votes, if it does the job, leave it alone. My Buick still has it's generator. When it fails (it will), I will rebuild it unless there is physical damage in it. Then I will go to a 6V alternator if I can't find a replacement at a reasonable price.
     
  11. Feb 4, 2015
    Greevesman

    Greevesman Member

    Napa, Ca
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    I am going to install a Warn MX 8000 for emergenciies but I think I will keep the generator.
     
  12. Feb 4, 2015
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
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    A generator will still power a winch as long as you have a good battery and not useing it constantly. It just takes along time to charge it back up. I put an alternator in mine because I always use junky old batteries that can barely start the jeep and could barely run the winch. Im with the other guys that say dont change it till you have to.
     
  13. Feb 4, 2015
    Wenaha

    Wenaha Member

    West Coast
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    I think you should swap out the generator and sell it to me cheap.
     
  14. Feb 5, 2015
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    probably ought to consider dual batteries.

    Or a PTO winch... ;)
     
  15. Feb 5, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Or a $65 alternator----------------------------------------------------

    If one is using an electric winch, an alternator is both the best and cheapest option for a reliable system. You will still need a good battery in either case-the highest amp hour one you can find that fits. Pricey, but I'm rather fond of Odyssey's these days. And I would get the 105 amp version of a GM 12SI alternator. The duty cycle of an 8000 lb winch on a 30 amp generator is going to be pretty short.
     
  16. Feb 5, 2015
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Agreed, you definitely should have a good battery no matter what. Just for discussion sake however, I do wonder about what would be the point of no return, in which a generator truly would not be able to keep up with charging a battery enough to keep a winch going. We all know that even under a light load a winch can pull more amps than any alternator could supply. I know the duty cycle on smaller winch motors is only something like 20% anyway, so I am kind of curious as to how that would work out for example. I wouldn't even begin to claim to have the experience or winching time that a lot of you guys on here have so I'm not implying that I am knowledgeable to that degree. I do think that some good discussion could help a lot of people have a better understanding of the whole issue. Just to clarify both of my CJ's do have single wire alternators, that I installed based on recommendations such as presented here. My wagon doesn't have an electric winch so I left the generator on, and it does do an excellent job of keeping the battery charged.
     
  17. Feb 5, 2015
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    M.A.D. has a great discussion on alternators and specifically the GM SI series. They talk about 1 versus 3 wire and why 3 is much better because or remote voltage sensing. Here is a link. I always thought generators charged better at low RPM's? They can have almost their full (low) output just off idle.

    http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml
     
  18. Feb 5, 2015
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I finally got a good working generator for my jeep. Fought and fought with my other jeep and finally put an alternator on that one. I need the generator because I have the hy-lo pump for my plow that mounts onto the generator. Kinda depends on what your use is going to be. Get a bracket made so your ready if it does break down
     
  19. Feb 5, 2015
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Good article, but in addition to something like that I was thinking about anyone with experiences in what works best, what doesn't work at all, etc. For example, has anyone watched what their ammeter or volt gauge does when using a winch, and if so what did they observe?
     
  20. Feb 5, 2015
    Greevesman

    Greevesman Member

    Napa, Ca
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    I have one of those $200+ sealed batteries with thr red top. Hopefully that will be enough?
     
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