[Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Sat Dec 24 10:42:37 MST 2016

There are issues relating to the extra output from the alternator. 

1)      See a note that I wrote for myself at the time I was wiring in my alternator:-

“The red wire is a second output wire from alternator. Goes to + on alternator terminal, shared with the white wire. This (additional) wire is to cope with the alternator’s capacity to kick out +/- 45 amps when, for example, jump starting another car, being jump started or after being jump started ie when the alternator is trying to charge a very flat battery, run the headlights etcetc all at the same time. Avoids the possibility of the alternator frying the white wire. Generator’s output is much less than alternator’s.”

2)      As to the point about the headlights, it’s well made. Most people take the original wiring up to relays and put heavy duty wiring up to the headlights. (Or they should, in my opinion).

One might be tempted to put in a 7-way fuse box to help protect these fragile wires, but I know that confessing to that might be provocative.

Simon

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of josef-eckert at t-online.de
Sent: 24 December 2016 14:00
To: Oudesluys; Healeys, Forum
Subject: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Kees,

There is never a need for additional power, except your regulator is not well tuned. Better to set the regulator right. The wiring in an Austin-Healey is not prepared to take the up to more than double output current of an alternator. The cables can get hot, can melt and get brittle inside the wiring loom. Same can happen when switched from ordinary headlights to H4 halogen headlights. The feeding cables are too thin for the current flowing through.

Josef Eckert

Konigswinter/Germany

-----Original-Nachricht-----

Betreff: Re: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Datum: 2016-12-24T14:01:08+0100

Von: "Oudesluys" <coudesluijs at chello.nl>

An: "healeys at autox.team.net" <healeys at autox.team.net>

The main reason for changing to an alternator is that it produces a high(ish) charging current starting at low speeds, usually around 35A (e.g. Lucas 100). Therefore the total output is higher. Especially if you drive the car with headlights on all the time and/or have an electric radiator fan, high power radio etc. you are better of with an alternator. It also is easier to maintain thus more reliable than a generator plus regulator.
Most generators produce 20-25A max. at high speed but will barely cope as they do not charge much if at all at low speeds. 
Kees Oudesluijs

Op 24-12-2016 om 4:01 schreef Bob Spidell:

Simon,

My knowledge of electronics is limited, but I do know the basics.  I can't think of any reason you couldn't fasten a coil to an alternator, except maybe their shape isn't as convenient for such use.  Alternators are generators--my 2008 Mustang's shop manual even calls them that--the only difference is how the unit converts alternating current to direct current, which is needed for charging the battery and for most other electrical needs in a car.  Generators physically 'commute'--the more contemporary term is 'rectify'--the AC with brushes and the segmented commutator--hence the name--while alternators commute the AC with diodes.  If anything, alternators produce less electromagnetic interference--EFI--than generators since there is less chance of creating a spark.  Alternators are more efficient--correct me if I'm wrong here--because without brushes they can be spun faster for a given engine speed (note alternator pulleys are usually smaller than generator pulleys).

I do think a coil mounted on an alternator would look silly, but that's just me.

Cheers,

Bob

  _____  

From: "Simon Lachlan"  <mailto:simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk> <simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>
To: josef-eckert at t-online.de, "Forum' 'Healeys"  <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> <Healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2016 1:35:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Thank you for this. As ever, all advice  sought is welcome. However....per my comment to your answer to my (previous) BJ8 questions, it would be really helpful if you applied your huge enthusiasm and knowledge to the question asked. I’m sure that your knowledge is encyclopaedic, but maybe, when you’re asked a simple question by a simple person, for once give a simple answer.

Simon

From: josef-eckert at t-online.de [mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de] 
Sent: 23 December 2016 21:07
To: Simon Lachlan; Healeys, Forum
Subject: AW: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

People who swap a generator for an alternator like to modify in any way. Anybody who knows more about electrics know there is no need for an alternator at all on Healeys. its only to adjust the rehulator to work as it should.  But that´s to difficult for most I suspect.

those selling these alternators are quite happy to sell them as people like to modify and they also sell you one of these performance coils and they need to be kept cool and best is to put the coil in the boot to keep it cool. Haven´t seen that so far but can´t await to see it.

Josef Eckert

Konigswinter/Germany

-----Original-Nachricht-----

Betreff: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Datum: 2016-12-23T21:57:44+0100

Von: "Simon Lachlan" <simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>

An: "'Healey Group'" <healeys at autox.team.net>

I’ve had an alternator in my BT7 for a while now.

So, when I was doing the job, I looked at pictures of other people’s installations. Nobody’s coil was mounted on the alternator as coils were/are mounted on the generators.

I didn’t mount mine on the alternator either.

Now, I’m wondering why everybody found ingenious places to put the coils and nobody ingeniously adapted their brackets to fit onto their alternator.

Do alternators get too hot? Do they give off some kind of magic death ray that fries coils or what??

Any reasons not to do it??

Thanks,

Simon

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