alternator upgrade?

Hiya

is it possible to get a higher output alternator for my S3, 2.6

under full electrical load - lights, heater, wipers and 20amp heater (for demisting enough to drive ) the fan belt is slipping and squealing a lot, and the indicators flash really slowly - charge light isn't coming on though.

just using the heater and the 20amp fan in daylight is fine tho, so I'm thinking the alternator can't cope, and as I only have a leccy fan on the rad too I'm keen to get enough juice to power the whole lot

fan belt was new a month or so ago, battery seems fine, alternator looks old enough to justify a new one (and is a bit rattly), so may as well improve it when I swap it, if it's possible....

cheers

Terry

try spacing the load over couple of mins , let it settle before next heavy load ?

it's the amount of current/charge you are trying to draw causing the squeal (fan belt slipping), the more things you switch on the more load you put on the alternator which in turn takes more effort from the belt to rotate it, you may need to adjust the belt or replace it

buying a higher output alternator won't change a thing in my opinion apart from not having to have the alternator put out it's maximum supply for as long to recharge the battery as well as supply all the ancillaries you switch on

a disco 200tdi alternator puts out 65amps and fits onto the Series mount with a simple "clocking" of the the ends to get the mounting correct, you'll just have to rework the wire ends as they are bolt on connectors rather than the plug that the Series uses

there will be other alternators that fit but i don't know what from

I've just upgraded to an A127 type kicking out 75 amps. It is a direct replacement for the lucas 17ACR type, assuming thats what you have now.
NEW A127 70 AMP LUCAS ALTERNATOR ROVER PERKINS MARINE BMC MASSEY RIGHT HAND FIT | eBay
Something like this should do. I'm running halogens, heated screens, electric fan, aux socket etc
Cheers
Kevin

It dont matter what alt you fit if the drive belt isnt tight enough to drive it ! which it isnt if its squealing HTSH

belt is tightened now

but i'd still like some more electrickery, more aux heating is required to keep the ice off the inside!

I'm assuming mine is one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Series-3-2-6-Petrol-Alternator-35-Amp-RTC3845-/370704807337 - which is 35amp - no wonder I'm struggling to run lights, heater, electric fan and 20 amp aux heater :biggrin1:

it's most likely only the 35amp one, that's all they were fitted with as standard

I had the same trouble with my series when i fitted the winch,even with the engine running it would drain the battery when winching.
The alternator was just a standard lucas putting out about 20 amps which was way too small for what i needed.
I invested n a bigger 70 amp alternator like this one

Land Range Rover V8 Classic Alternator MG TVR SD1 KitCar Morgan Dax Westfield V8 | eBay

I know its for a V8 but may fit your mounting bracket,you just might need to turn the body of the alternator to make it the right way round.

I think I got one like that too but I got it from Woods Auto Electrics in Huddersfield for about £50 ish. They were very helpful and even swapped the pulley for me for nowt when I took the old one in....think I'd want something bigger for winching though...a lot of winches will draw three or four hundred amps!

dominicbeesley said:

I think I got one like that too but I got it from Woods Auto Electrics in Huddersfield for about £50 ish. They were very helpful and even swapped the pulley for me for nowt when I took the old one in....think I'd want something bigger for winching though...a lot of winches will draw three or four hundred amps!

Click to expand...

That was my plan but the biggest output i could get and keep the standard belt was 70 amp,could have got a 110amp from a disco V8 but it was twice as expensive and would have had to change all the pulleys and waterpump so i could fit the wider belt.
Now i have the 70 amp alternator and two battery's and it works a treat