2 alternator setup

[kmfdmk]

I'll be there with my ghetto-fabulous CarPC you gotta check it out Liam. I finally did it. Just installed an 63 Amp alternator (in addition to the stock one) last night.

[Feedman]

I'll be there with my ghetto-fabulous CarPC you gotta check it out Liam. I finally did it. Just installed an 63 Amp alternator (in addition to the stock one) last night.

How do you have two alternators? 8)

[kmfdmk]

It's called removing the Air Conditioner Compressor, and nearly 13 hours of menial labor, not to mention bloodshed. (screwdrivers, saws, files, and sharp air dam edges) I even have install pix... and for the most part the d4mn thing works.

It's been a fun trial & error process.

[narfdanarf]

take some pics of the setup...I want to see those.

[kmfdmk]

take some pics of the setup...I want to see those.

Oh yeah I'm daft, must be the whole being up for 30 hours straight thing, having worked @ a job for 12 hours of that and worked on the car 12 of that as well.

I forgot to mention I took install pix. From the fabrication on up. I don't have a finished pic yet, but the PC setup isn't complete. Alternator has a "professionall install" look (as good as I can get it). I think there are some 20 or 30 pix. Starting from the custom made bracket on up. Didn't take many pix of the AC compressor & condeser removal process as I was too busy cussing @ my car.

[daveb91]

I'll be there with my ghetto-fabulous CarPC you gotta check it out Liam. I finally did it. Just installed an 63 Amp alternator (in addition to the stock one) last night.

How do you have two alternators? 8)

Ive seen some SPL shootout cars with at least 10 alternators. :twisted:

[Don juan futon]

Just wondering why you didn't try underdriving your alternator first?

[C_Note]

I forgot to mention I took install pix.

Heh, get some sleep, man.

[narfdanarf]

Just wondering why you didn't try underdriving your alternator first?


I take it you mean overdriving...and I think he stated that he thought he might lose too much hp on his engine or something.

[Feedman]

Just wondering why you didn't try underdriving your alternator first?


I take it you mean overdriving...and I think he stated that he thought he might lose too much hp on his engine or something.

I just would have disassembled it and rewound it with a higer rated amp coil....

Cheaper less headache...no loss of your a/c.... 8)

[daveb91]

Yeah rewinding would be the cheap way to go and i know he said he problems with the voltage doing momentary dips a capacitor would of helped to smooth out the voltage.

[C_Note]

Wardriving > over/underdriving

[Jay]

as long as the alternator is good, i would of just added a good gel cell battery an a cap an called it a day.. been alot less headache

[kmfdmk]

Im late else I'd post pix in this thread instead go here :

http://groups.msn.com/kmfdmksdungeon/pixofnever.msnw?Page=1

There's a dropdown @ the top of the page that lets you pick page two or three... it has all the fabrication steps & stuff

[Feedman]

Im late else I'd post pix in this thread instead go here :

http://groups.msn.com/kmfdmksdungeon/pixofnever.msnw?Page=1

There's a dropdown @ the top of the page that lets you pick page two or three... it has all the fabrication steps & stuff

Interesting...how did you wire the amp...

Parallel or in series...?

Where are you going to mount the pc? In the trunk, underneath the seat, glove compartment...? 8)

[kmfdmk]

The amp is wired to the existing factory alternator and the vehicles power system. The stereo amp is not wired into the additional alternator.

Tomorrow I'm going to be adding a smaller batter (small import kinda battery) and enclosure to the setup. I'm looking to yank the rear seats as well but that will come in time. (as in later on).

Right now the only thing hooked to the extra alternator is the Power inverter, however since no load is present on the alternator, I'm experiencing flux voltage, the voltage that is output from the alternator when there's no load, IE, the alternator is putting out about 18v dc or thereabouts. Once a battery/load is present the voltage drops to the correct 13.8 or thereabouts voltage. This will alleviate the overvoltage protection error that my inverter keeps giving me.

Basically if I can get the Inverter & PC turned on quick enough when the initial exciting amperage is applied to the alternator, the alternator never gets to put out too high of a voltage and the inverter will perform as intended. If I don't get it turned on fast enough, no load is present and the flux voltage situation occurs. Once this happens the only way to alleviate the problem is to introduce a batter to provide a means of loading the system.

Upon talking to my grandfather & father (both prior electricians) they have told me that though the *average* flux voltage (when no load is present in the circuit) the average is 18volts, the peak to peak voltage can jump as high as 50 volts (which I have indeed measured as true) When no battery is hooked up it was jumping as high as 45 to 50 volts. So I just need a battery in the circuit to bring the voltage down to normal. That's all.

I have gotten the system running a few different times. However I just need to hook up a battery and then it'll be functional.

[Feedman]

Sounds good....good luck....

Btw...what are the specs on the pc.... 8)

[kmfdmk]

It's a Über chopped up Compaq...

Compaq AMD Slot A 600 Mhz w/ 200 Mhz FSB
128 PC-100 SDRam
Onboard 1394 2x ports
Front USB Ports 2x
"Rear" USB Ports 2x
PCI 10/100 Modem NIC
PCI 802.11b D-Link DWL-520
PCI Video Controller 16mb VGA & Proprietary LCD Controller
10.4" LCD (Keycorp) & 10.4" LCD (Planar)
Compaq Keyboard
MS Optical Mouse
USB GPS
5.5dbi 802.11b Antenna

Also have an extra USB 802.11g MN-710

350Watt Continuous Inverter 700 Peak
80Amp (@ 6000rpm) 63Amp @ 3000 rpm GM 1 Wire Alternator
8Guage Powerwire

TBD Battery

Oh yeah.... highly modified/skinned down XP Pro is the OS with a EXTREMELY tweaked registry & msconfig boot.ini file. Also running NetStumbler 4.0 w/ GPS, ans WinKey

To be installed a whole SLEW of stuff.

[kmfdmk]

I've decided to stop duplicating all my posts in here (as this thread is a branch from another thread that got offtopic)

If you wanna read about the MP3-Car Setup, go here:

http://movfast.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=733&start=15