High Output Alternator

[C.E.Divine]

Adding a second battery or a capacitor is like having a credit card.

Consider the alternator your net take home pay.

Consider the amp your monthly expenditures.

And the battery or capacitor the line of credit on your credit card.

You make a certain amount of money each month(amperage output) to live on (power your electronics). You suddenly start going out each weekend and blowing a lot of money in bars or movie theaters, and find your bank account has gone into the red unexpectedly (put in a bigger stereo and get headlight dimming). So instead of taking it easy and spending less money, you get a credit card (second battery or capacitor) to finance your weekend shenanigans. But here is the problem- you don't have more money than before. You just have a higher threshold that you can spend each month via your line of credit. But when you finally have to pay it back, your job isn't paying any higher than before, and you can't pay it back. You go deeper and deeper in debt, and finally go bankrupt if you don't do anything about it.

Sound like pretty poor financial advice, right?

Long story short, second battery or capacitor would only be a stop-gap method, but eventually you have to charge them. If the stock alt couldn't keep up then, it sure as hell can't now. Get it rewound to put out more amps.

 

[sonic007]

That was an awesome post right there. I need to remember this when explaining to my customers..lol

 

[C.E.Divine]

That's how I explain it to anyone that comes to me to install a stereo. When they ask me why I didn't add a capacitor to the quote when they are adding big subs, I tell them it's a waste of money if they don't want to add in a HO alternator.

 

[SPLLTZ]

An update to this post, the last 2 posts (above made complete sense)

But, To anyone looking for a REAL HO alt for their sonic... They are being made, and no do not go on ebay and buy a power bastards alt for your sonic,

Mechman, Singer, DC Power Engineering, Irragi, all people who HAND BUILD alternators per order

Have a Singer Coming my way right now

 

[NewZJ]

How much did Singer charge? How many amps?

 

[Hdmanny]

How much would you have to add to your car in order to need an HO alt? I thought Singer made sewing machines.

 

[ChrisJ]

An update to this post, the last 2 posts (above made complete sense)

But, To anyone looking for a REAL HO alt for their sonic... They are being made, and no do not go on ebay and buy a power bastards alt for your sonic,

Mechman, Singer, DC Power Engineering, Irragi, all people who HAND BUILD alternators per order

Have a Singer Coming my way right now

When you get yours can you share some pictures to give people an idea of what a real one looks like?

I'm curious on what changes they make over the stock design if dimensions remain the same. Only thing I can think of is higher temperature windings, or perhaps a different style winding and a larger rectifier though I'm not sure how a larger rectifier could be squeezed in.

 

[NewZJ]

Should be same size housing with upgraded internals.

 

[SPLLTZ]

I dont have the one for the sonic yet its still being built,

The cases remain the same size, He dissembles and upgrades the parts internally,

Mike can make a 200A Alt that will bolt in direct, he can powdercoat them any color you can imagine (though in the sonics case its quite pointless on the 1.4 as its on the rear of the motor damn you chevy)

Prices will range from 400-500 a piece, but again, this is a lifetime warrantied alt... customer service is second to none...

This isnt "singer sewing machines" lol

This is Mike Singer of Singer Alternators out of ohio, i have orderd... uhm... One for my regal 2 years ago (300A), Vibe (220A) (Sonic 200A), Just installed one in my roommates 02 Jeep liberty (320A)

all that is generally required when you buy these is mike sticks a smaller pully on them to help with idle amperage. Meaning you will have to goto the parts store and buy a 3/8's to 1/2" smaller belt... (you may make a couple trips as sometimes that size ranges to whats available) (but a stock belt will slip and cause you all sorts of voltage problems)

Most guys who know audio know that when your competing or demoing you want to maintain your batts, so revving to 1500-2k during a demo will give you optimal results out of the alternator.

I know mike extremely well... Hell if we had enough sonic owners interested i may be able to do a group buy?

 

[SPLLTZ]

Also just spoke with mike on the phone...

He would be willing to do a group buy...

Anyone interested can let me know!

The Alternator on our cars is PCM regulated as far as voltage output, sooo... for the serious guys out there, you will want to run an external voltage regulator (something like XS Power or such) but for you stock guys just wanting to take a little load of your batteries, the stock plug will work fine for you,

Its just us guys who like 14.8 all the time that have to worry bout it :banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

[SPLLTZ]

Also upon talking with him further...

With the PCM Controlling the alternator, the way it works is basically... once it detects your batteries are topped off, it goes into "stand by"

Prime example... fresh start, i pop up to 14.8, hit the highway after a few minutes, boom, 12.5, and it will stay there cranking music or what not,

So, again, if you are wanting higher voltages constantly you will need a external regulator.

Stupid PCM,

and to anyone who will come up with the 14.8 is too high...

naw, not even almost, by the time the bass drops you will be down into the high 13's low 14's anyways,

regardless just good info for all you builders out there

I am really hoping we can get a group buy together! He will be sending me all the info tonight!

 

[HollywoodTurbo]

I wonder how much the group buy would be... I've been looking for an aftermarket alternator for over 2 years...

 

[NewZJ]

I'm interested

 

[SPLLTZ]

I will be in touch with you guys on the price's later this evening per mike actually getting back to me, hes a busy guy, but again everything's made by hand with him...

Glad we got a few interested!:banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

[laborsmith]

200 is high for me, what about 120 or 150 amps?

Laborsmith

 

[SPLLTZ]

Why would you want lower? Just curious is all... it doesnt hurt anything to have "more" not at all actually... What size is ours stock? i guess i cant remember lol...

But i mean im sure he can make a toned down version, but again why, 200A is already small when it comes to HO alts (again ive had 220-320's), alt only puts out the amount needed, so if you have a 200, and you produce a 130A load... well, you still have 70A reserve just on the alt alone... why stress out the already hideously small and terrible ac delco battery thats already under the hood

 

[ChrisJ]

Why would you want lower? Just curious is all... it doesnt hurt anything to have "more" not at all actually... What size is ours stock? i guess i cant remember lol...

But i mean im sure he can make a toned down version, but again why, 200A is already small when it comes to HO alts (again ive had 220-320's), alt only puts out the amount needed, so if you have a 200, and you produce a 130A load... well, you still have 70A reserve just on the alt alone... why stress out the already hideously small and terrible ac delco battery thats already under the hood

If anything is going to stress out the lead acid battery it's your continuous 14.8 volts cooking the crap out of it. opcorn:

 

[SPLLTZ]

Incorrect, take into consideration that the people who will be running an external regulator wont be running 14.8 24/7. Hence why this would be a great thing for demoing or just competing where your parked and pounding.

Your alt will not put out any amperage until it detects a load, so that lovely 200A isnt doing crap unless you have a load on it, 14.8 wont do anything to your battery, that is an absolutely perfect charging voltage, anything OVER 15V THEN your talking battery destruction, electronics malfucntioning, hence why people running 14V batterys with 16V Alts seperate there 12V/16V charging systems.

So...

Stock chevy sonic with a 200A alt and an external regulator, will not act any different than stock alt except, 1. Higher Charging Voltage (your sonic already jumps to 14.8 on a cold start anyways to deal with the slight drain it puts on your battery when cranking). 2. Higher Amperage WHEN NEEDED not 24/7

 

[SPLLTZ]

stick your battery on a good battery charger, check the voltage coming out of it on a 2A charge, itll read 14.6-14.8,

Another thing you need to take into consideration

Most Amplifier manufactures rate @ 14.4V (now why would they do that if your car was going to cook at 14.4-14.8)

1.0V sounds like a huge difference, and it is, when your clamping/metering etc...

But... for instance, The liberty i just finished has a PCM controlled alternator, max voltage of 13.8 (which is absolute garbage)
Stuck a singer 320A (clamps 345A) with a single wire gm plug (remote turn on from a 12V source)

And the jeep charges all day every day at 14.2-14.8,

Never had a single issue with it,

XSD1200 under the hood
NSB FT100 in the back
XP3000 in the rear also

again... the voltage will not harm the vehicle in anyway shape or form, your headlight bulbs have an operating voltage of 10V-16V (i would not reccomend that last number unless you REALLY DO enjoy having problems)

 

[laborsmith]

Per my memory the stock alternator is 100 amps and battery is 485 CA.

Laborsmith