[Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Sat Dec 24 12:17:55 MST 2016

Josef,

I read this with interest and in line with your comment about not understanding Americans I need to comment that I would find the conditions you describe to be unlivable. Even a lot of Americans would not understand that, but living and growing up as I have I consider all "high density" areas with some level of distress. Not only does my Healey overheat in stalled traffic, but I become irritable and will not tolerate it if I can avoid it. In the early days of the american western expansion there were some who developed the habit of moving whenever they could see the smoke from their nearest neighbor's cabin. There is not that much room left, but I still can't stand to be too long where I can't see outskirts of town. My late sister-in-law was a German girl from Westphalen on Herne. After she had been in this country for over 30 years living in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Montana she took a trip home to visit her family. On her return she reported constantly feeling claustrophobic during her visit and vowed she would never go back. From these experiences perhaps you can develop a little more understanding of (some) Americans. Oh, by the way, I am not nearly as concerned about our new president elect as I have been about the gross negligence of the (thankfully) outgoing administration, and closer to home I would be looking quite skeptically at Ms. Merckle if I were you.

________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of josef-eckert at t-online.de <josef-eckert at t-online.de>
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2016 2:41:36 PM
To: Oudesluys; Healeys, Forum
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Mount a coil on an alternator.

Hi Kees,

You know in Europe we live in a high density area, nearly all over, especially you in the Randstad area and here we in the Cologne are. To the north we have the Ruhrgebiet to the south the Frankfurt area, and, and, and. No joy to drive anymore. I never ever want to drive into a bigger town or city with a classic car. Where shall I park the car? I avoid in any way to drive on the motorways with a classic car. You are overrolled by the trucks. For long distances I load it on my trailer and bring it to the place where I can enjoy driving. Much easier than doing these legs in a classic. For driving in beautiful rural areas the car has all iit needs and I see no reason to change anything. Its a winning team as it is and it works, believe me. Friends with all these modifications on their cars have more trouble with their cars than I have.

Josef Eckert

Konigswinter/Germany

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

Betreff: Re: Mount a coil on an alternator.

Datum: 2016-12-24T15:26:26+0100

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

An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>, "Healeys, Forum" <Healeys at autox.team.net>

Hi Josef,

Well...., increase the diameter of the wires from/ to the alternator and the H4 bulbs if fitted. The old head light bulbs are to dim for modern traffic conditions and you will also need an electric cooling fan to keep you out of trouble.
In my view it is advisable and  permissible to make small adaptions to an old vehicle if you want to use and enjoy it in modern traffic. You cannot travel the same way any more as in the olde days.

Cheers,
Kees Oudesluijs

Op 24-12-2016 om 15:00 schreef josef-eckert at t-online.de<mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de>:

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><mailto:coudesluijs at chello.nl>

An: "healeys at autox.team.net"<mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> <healeys at autox.team.net><mailto: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" <simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk><mailto:simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>
To: josef-eckert at t-online.de<mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de>, "Forum' 'Healeys" <Healeys at autox.team.net><mailto: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> [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<mailto:simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>>

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