Astroc2002 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I plan getting a 180 Amp Mean Green Alternator when I upgrade to an electric fan and KC Hi-Lites. Need to know if I go with a 180 Amp Alternator it won't fry the wiring or electronics. Better ask than be stuck with a crispy Pathfinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Your alternator, is not going to fry anything. It is rated at 180 amps. This means it will be able to supply up to 180 amps to any circuit that draws tha many amps. It only puts out the std 13.8 volts. You will most likely be only drawing 30ish amps from your fan and lights so that is all the alternator will be supplying. I have a stock std 70 amp alty on my TD27 and it is more than enough to supply charge to 2 batteries as well as the winch and 5 driving lights. I draw with calculations, 43 amps with the driving lights alone so there is sufficient amperage left over to charge batteries etc. I would not use the winch with the lighting running all the same. I have run this scenario through with my local auto sparky and he has no issues with what im doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxtrot044 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Your alternator, is not going to fry anything. It is rated at 180 amps. This means it will be able to supply up to 180 amps to any circuit that draws tha many amps.It only puts out the std 13.8 volts. You will most likely be only drawing 30ish amps from your fan and lights so that is all the alternator will be supplying. I have a stock std 70 amp alty on my TD27 and it is more than enough to supply charge to 2 batteries as well as the winch and 5 driving lights. I draw with calculations, 43 amps with the driving lights alone so there is sufficient amperage left over to charge batteries etc. I would not use the winch with the lighting running all the same. I have run this scenario through with my local auto sparky and he has no issues with what im doing. Thats interesting. I wonder if thatll wear your alty down quicker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Thats interesting. I wonder if thatll wear your alty down quicker? No, the alternator runs all the time, It does not switch on and off like an air con pump does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 No, the alternator runs all the time, It does not switch on and off like an air con pump does. Yep, it's pull varies depending on what is needed, but it is always turning. If anything would wear quicker it would be belts, but even that is just marginally more if any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KovemaN Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Brushes in the alternator will wear out more quickly under heavier loads. They are basically just electric motors in reverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroc2002 Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 So would it be safe to drop in a Mean Green 180 Amp Alternator to compensate the additional power needed for running accessories? Because right now when ever I turn on the headlights the RPM's drop from 1k to 800 when idling in park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 that sounds like a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigred07 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 i met a guy in my town with a few aux lights on his 87 and he said he needed a new alt. something about all the lights being to much for the stock one and he wore it out really fast. he said he got one off a newer nissan minivan lol, so it could be a good idea to get a new one apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daver123 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I replaced my stock fan with the taurus fan that draws about 30 amps and i have a dual battery system and about an 800 watt sound system, all this equaled dead alty. I up graded to the 120 amp quest alty and still had electrical problems. The problem was coming from a fusible link right at the positive terminal on the battery. This fusible link is part of the charge system for the battery and also supplies the power to the truck. This wire is not capable of handling the much higher amperage loads and eventually failed. It over heats and stops conducting properly and the alty then stops supplying power at all and all you have is battery power. I believe that the ECU might detect this fault, not for sure. The solution is simple, run a much beefier wire, like 2-4 gauge, from the alty to the positive battery terminal. Ever since i did this i have had no trouble powering anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 just leave the fusabble link for stock equipment and run extras w/ fuses directly off the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 i met a guy in my town with a few aux lights on his 87 and he said he needed a new alt. something about all the lights being to much for the stock one and he wore it out really fast. he said he got one off a newer nissan minivan lol, so it could be a good idea to get a new one apparently. Quest and Maxima alts are common upgrades for us. The Maxima is a 90amp (IIRC) and just needs the pully swapped. The Quest is 110-130 amp (different years, different output) and needs more elaborate reworking to install properly on our trucks (a mount ground down, new adjuster, pully swap with spacers....). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packie88 Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 ive got the mean green 180 amp alty and i love it... no issues what so ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbywan Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 ive got the mean green 180 amp alty and i love it... no issues what so ever Where did you get it and what did it cost you if you don't mind me asking? -Colby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packie88 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 i got mine from AC and not cheap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 i got mine from AC and not cheap did you have to upgrade your wiring btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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