Alternator Capacity

[Spinal]

I want to fit some extra lights to my car... but that will put another 30A or so of load onto the electrical system.

Reckon that the dinky (65A) alternator will be able to cope?

Michele

 

[frank]

there is plenty of overcapacity anyway M, i have my alternator at half speed (oversize pulley) for years

 

[Spinal]

Splendid

I was worried worried as I'm fitting 6 light units, each at around 60W... (or 5a@12V)... That's an extra 30a, which is roughly half the capacity of a brand new, stock, alternator.

M.

 

[frank]

bear in mind that the output will be about half of 65A at idle tho eh

 

[Spinal]

Indeed... may need to cut back on the amount of illumination I'm fitting...

Or split the lights onto different circuits, so that all 6 are only turned on in emergencies...

M.

 

[frank]

some led spotlights should suffice

 

[Spinal]

Got any links? All the ones I found were quite high rated in terms of wattage...

 

[frank]

these are more lumens than an h4 halogen eh http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-1800L...Vehicles_CarParts_SM&var=&hash=item4187557a3d

 

[Spinal]

Interesting... Will try them.
I've always doubted the lumens claims that the chinese led manufacturers claim, but at a tenner or so, I'll buy one and test it...

M.

 

[SuperUno]

Our alt seems ok with running x2 100w H4 headlight bulbs, x4 35w HIDs in the lamp pod and x2 100w H2's in the corner pods at Brands Stages this year, plus running all the other bits needs for the car fuel pump, ecu etc....

Does make the alt whistle a bit though!

 

[Spinal]

Damn that's a lot of light! Is that a vampire-battling car you have there?!

M.