The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay generator or alternator?

i have a simple question. i was thinking of using an alternator in place of the generator. the motor is a 235. my reason for thinking this is....
1. i would like to put better headlights, taillights, etc.
2. i want to add a radio and a couple of small speakers
3. i want to be able to have a hidden power outlet for charging a cell phone or running a spotlight or other small electrical devices

Good or bad idea?

There's nothing wrong with using an alternator, and you can fit one with up to 100 amps or so capacity, as opposed to about a 45 amp max for the largest DC generators. The alternator will also charge at idle, something the generator doesn't do well.

That being said, none of the accessories you've described so far will draw more power than a good generator can produce. The late-1950's Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs used 45-amp generators with ball bearings on both ends, and supported far more original-equipment accessories than your tricked-out stovebolt would have.
Jerry

is it much of a hassle to switch it to an alternator.

For stock load the stock generator should do well.

HOWEVER you are talking about added load.
You therefore may need more generation whether generator or alternator is now the question.

Generators are more maintenance than alternator ASSUMING same quality

Alternators are a bit more tolerant of dirt and water ASSUMING slip rings.
IF brushless excitation then they are almost immune.

From my experience as an industrial electrician AC is generally the first choice over DC any day - there are exceptions but they dont apply to vehicles.

The next choice is 6 or 12 volt. That is made probably on personal preferance cost and availability (on a daily or 3 day basis) for replacement parts.

Dan Bentler

well its already 12 volt. my main reason of concern i wanted to address is, why do i get brighter lights at higher rpms and not at idle. my volt meter bounces a bit at idle but stays steady at higher rpms. is it common with generators or is there some other type of issue i should be addressing? i just assumed that with a generator, if it was bouncing at idle with just factory electronics, then generator wouldnt hold up to added things such as a modern radio and lighting as well as an alternator.

rat - you don't have any "factory electronics", and a modern radio probably takes less power than an original would - the reason the lights fade at idle is the generator isn't putting out enough or the regulator is maladjusted, that's not the original behavior, there's no reason a good original generator won't handle anything you want to put on the truck - you likely have a worn out generator, either take it to an auto electric shop and have it evaluated [best to have the regulator with it] and get it rebuilt or get a higher output one or go with an alternator, nothing to cause concern

Bill

well that clears that up. LOL!! thanx for the knowledge. i guess i, or should i say you, just saved me from doing something senseless. LOL!! your opinion, is it better to rebuild or replace?

for a driver I'd go with what's cheaper, depends if the generator maybe just needs brushes and the regulator adjusted or if either needs replacing, which might be pricey - you can prolly find an alternator from a wrecker cheap, pretty easy to adapt with mount pieces off a later 6 cyl

Bill

ok. that helps out a lot. thanx again!!

To me there are so many advantages to the alternator, the only reason to use a gen. is if you wanted to keep the original look or you are not really going to drive the truck.