Car performance due to alternator

[Zero]

Hi bros,

 

as above. Is it possible that by changing the alternator, the car performance will be slightly better or so?

 

thks

./zero

[Tohdj]

years back...i was driving a car which was 8 yrs old...and the alternator was failing. the fuel consumption was bad, and pickup was bad. then the alternator failed just before the 9th year...and i replaced it. the fuel consumption improved tremendously, and pickup was good!

[Zero]

hmm... ok that make sense... but i wan to know if changing my alternator to a higher amp, does help on pickup/performance? taking that my alternator is stil working fine.

[Tohdj]

if u are looking at just 10ampHr more, then it should be OK.but putting a much higher amp alternator may place a heavier load on the engine, and it may not fit into your engine bay with modifications.

 

try asking the people who do HiFi...i heard that some actually change their alternators.

[Turbonetics]

i dun think got any diff if ur current is working fine...

[Dwoon]

I would certainly like to try it out .... of course at a resonable price lah..... wrote in to Bosch singapore to enquire but no reply after more than a month.

[Yeobh]

Nothing is free, all the power needed to move the car and operates the accessories originate from fuel.From the fuel you get heat energy which is via the engine is converted to mechanical energy. The conversion efficiency is rather low - 70 % of the heat energy is loss .

The laternator is driven via a v belt driven directly from the engine crankshaft. The power transmission from crankshaft to the alternator via the belt - the efficincy is not 100% due to friction and v belt slip.

 

For simple calculation lets assume the power to drive the alternator is one hp = 746watts. The question is how much of the one hp is actually converted to electrical engery. If the alternator is 80% effiecient, the output from the alternator should be 597 watts = 42amp @ 14.2 volt. So if your increase your alternator to a 80amp unit the power need to drive the unit will be more than two hp

[M5m3]

how abt changing alternator belt ? does it affect FC ?

 

i last serviced my car at BM and they changed the alternator belt, saying it was cracked.

 

since than my FC has not been as good as b4. used to do abt 10km/l to 10.5/l or more. now avg only 9.5km/l. no change in driving habits and route. i'm driving a picnic

[Yeobh]

Unless they fix the wrong size belt if not the effect go be on the positive.

[Zero]

hmmm... thanks for the detailed explaination.

[Helix]

Hi bros,

 

as above. Is it possible that by changing the alternator, the car performance will be slightly better or so?

 

thks

./zero

 

IMO, you should be thinking along the lines of changing to a new and, thus, more efficient alternator to restore the performance output of the car.

Edited February 8, 2006 by Helix

[M5m3]

thanks.

 

is it easy to check the size of belt ? ie does mechanic need to strip the alternator etc.

 

sorry i totally non-technical.

[Yeobh]

If the shop has such reference manuals , getting the right belt should not be a problem