I don't have an interest in converting to an alternator, it crossed my mind in
the late 70's once, but I never visited it again, but I understand that
alternators were a minor part of the thread. My first TR did have trouble
keeping up with all the electronics I had at the time. Back then, I did have an
electric fan and some high powered headlamps... radio... etc... And yes,
when it was nighttime, and it was raining, it was quite uncomfortable knowing I
was driving on the battery... to another part of the great state of California.
So yes, having an upgraded, more powerful generator is something that would
interest me... even though, on my current Triumph, I have avoided such things as
electric cooling fans, etc.
Some people just like to have things a little bit better, even if they may never
need it. "Be Prepared" was a scout motto, I seem to remember... but being
"thrifty" is also in there... so I just try to balance the two... keeping in
mind that a dead car on the side of the road can add a lot of cost to a simple
trip.. and could even be dangerous.
That all said, I haven't spent a dime on this debate... but if something came
of it... and my current, well maintained generator finally is due for a
rebuild... I would consider an upgraded generator... if it was Lucas... and
looked reasonably light a period upgrade... and didn't cost me an arm and a
leg. If they came out with a specifically upgraded generator, based on what
they provided in 60's as an option, I'd be all over it.
As far as fabrication goes... some people like their car's stock, some people
like to tinker, some people don't... some people are just not engineers...
but they still like to tinker... etc.. It's all about problem solving...
sometimes it takes a few tries... That doesn't make it a wrong path.... unless
they let those brackets break while in use!
Your response shares your experience, bravo for that... that you opened by
telling us that you don't understand the discussion... well... I'm sorry to hear
that. : )
--Justin
Greg Solow wrote:
> I truly don't understand all the interest in converting a +4 or a 4/4 to an
> alternator. On my car, which has two lucas electric defroster, an electric
> fan for the heater, an electric cooling fan for the radiator, Lucas H-4
> halogen headlamps, and two halogen 'square 8" driving lamps, the only time
> there the original generator can't keep up with the load is in the rain
> with everything on at the same time. Under any other circumstances, the
> generator is able to put out as much or more current than is being used by
> the car. For the short times that the system is running in deficit, the
> battery is able to store enough power to keep things going for many hours of
> driving.
> The secret seems to be in adjusting the regulator and having a generator
> that is in good shape to begin with. The 22700 series of generators were
> rated at a continuous output of 22 amps. They will work indefinitely at an
> output of 28 amps with no ill effects. At 30 amps they will start to throw
> solder and will burn up after maybe 30 minutes charging at that rate. They
> normally charge at any speed above 1500 rpm or so.
> So unless you have loaded up your car with a super high output stereo,
> and lots of other electrical consumers, there is no reason that a generator
> should not do everything that your cars' electrical system needs to do.
> There is probably a weight savings in fitting a small alternator like
> that of a Geo Metro, but there are fabrication problems in designing and
> building a lower mount that doesn't crack with vibration and the passage of
> time and miles. Most of the alternator mounts that I have seen on Morgans
> were not very well engineered and required reinforcement to prevent their
> incipient failure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Greg Solow
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