The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Generator vs. Alternator

Anyone have an idea of Gen vs Alt. Which is better? I personally like the looks of the generator.

Whitedog,


While they both produce electricity, they do it using different methods and because of this they have different characteristics.

The generator will do things the alternator can't do and vice-versa. If you are needing raw power, the alternator is for you!

If you are loaded with disposable income, they make a alternator in sheep's clothing. It looks like a generator but its guts are a alternator.

So, it all depends on what you find visually appealing and what your electrical requirements are. That's my two cents worth.

Stuart

The generator has the nastalgic look. The alternator is much more practical. The gen. does not charge at idle. It can get you in trouble in slow moveing traffic. The alt. puts out a lot more total power & is nessesary if you have extra electrical items. The alt. lasts a lot longer & is more reliable. It is easier to regulate. So it depends what you want to do with your truck. If you are going to use it regularly I would go for the alt.

You can have your cake and eat it.
http://www.gener-nator.com/
Or this guy claims you can roll your own.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-29715.html

$845 plus $50 for the regulator plus shipping! Hold on while I try to clear my throat, I'm afraid I choked on this one. All in all what your talking about is a thousand bucks less some pocket change.
That’s a lot of scratch just to get an alternator on you engine. My stock 1950 vintage 6v electrical system was working just fine when I got my truck in ’06 and I drove it the first year with out touching it. But just to make sure I didn’t have problems, I rebuilt the generator, starter and cleaned/checked and readjusted the regulator cleaned all of the electrical connections on the truck and replaced battery and cables.
I don’t understand what the fixation is with alternators and 12v systems. The stock 6v systems perform just fine when properly maintained. Idle time is only a very small percentage of the time the engine is running and if your having problems with that, then I’d say that you need to work on your preventive maintenance.
I have the optional right hand tail light, an original optional AM tube radio, an electronic tachometer and a Sony AM/FM/CD and I’ve have had no electrical problems with it relating to the generator or 6v system in the two years that I’ve been driving the truck.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

It is easy to choke on that amount of money alright. I'm also a proponent of staying with 6v unless there's a pressing need for 12v. I did put a 6v alternator on my 38. I like the simplicity and reliability of the alternator but miss the "original" look of the generator.