Alternator upgrade

[Drunner97]

Then I'm happy. I was holding 13.7-13.8 on the way to work this morning on both batteries. I should easily be able to keep a good charge on both batteries with the fridge running while we're out off road or camping.

 

[sr3tlaw]

Finished the upgrade today. 1/0 on the big 3 and 1/0 for the dual battery along with a 200a isolator and fuses. Noting above that the system seems to like 13.4-13.6 that's just about exactly what I'm at across both batteries now. I'm holding steady at 13.6-13.8 at idle fully charged on both batteries. With my lights on, a/C full blast, and fridge running I'm maintaining 13.6 at idle whereas before my house battery would be about .5 less.

What's interesting with all the research I've done, is that some people have achieved 14+ with the big 3. There's a 3rd gen video on YouTube that the guy got up to 14.3 after the upgrade. Either way, I'm happy maintaining at 13.6 at idle, especially with the fridge running, because I shouldn't drain either battery on the trail now if we're slowly going through things.

My alternator is also going bad and I'm running an almost identical setup as you with a 200amp solenoid and two yellow top batteries. I've been wanting to do the upgrade to the big three and possibly a new alternator but I have a few questions.

1. Do you have to remove the the intake manifold to get to one of the wires you're upgrading too?

2. Did your new alternator require a new belt or pulley? I've read that something on the alternator is smaller.

3. Did you keep the stock wiring/loom in place and just add more wire?

Thanks!

 

[Drunner97]

My alternator is also going bad and I'm running an almost identical setup as you with a 200amp solenoid and two yellow top batteries. I've been wanting to do the upgrade to the big three and possibly a new alternator but I have a few questions.

1. Do you have to remove the the intake manifold to get to one of the wires you're upgrading too?

2. Did your new alternator require a new belt or pulley? I've read that something on the alternator is smaller.

3. Did you keep the stock wiring/loom in place and just add more wire?

Thanks!

1. I have a V6 so the alt is on the side of the block next to the starter.

2. Pully on the upgraded alt is smaller than the stock pully. I haven't changed any belts yet, but if I accelerate hard and hit 4500 rpms my battery light flickers for a quick second. Not sure if that's because of the belt hopping or the pully being too small. Otherwise everything runs fine. I will be changing my serpentine belt this weekend regardless because I'm at 115k.

3. left stock wiring/loom in place and connected. I read some writeups where people redid the actual stock wiring with the upgraded wiring, but I didn't want to mess with it.

 

[ran]

Wasn't there a thread a while back about the 200A Supra alternator being plug and play??
__________________
2007 SE V6

 

[Drunner97]

Wasn't there a thread a while back about the 200A Supra alternator being plug and play??
__________________
2007 SE V6

If there was I never ran across it, and I did a lot of research on alternator and charging issues before just taking a chance and picking up the 240a.

 

[jstim]

With my alternator going out on me, I have a couple questions. How many amps are the stock alternators pushing out? Is it worth it to upgrade to 180 amp with a single battery? I will be adding the winch this summer.

 

[riceandpho]

go high output if you can afford it, it doesnt hurt if you get 200 to 250 one. your always ready to have more electrical later to add on.

 

[Drunner97]

With my alternator going out on me, I have a couple questions. How many amps are the stock alternators pushing out? Is it worth it to upgrade to 180 amp with a single battery? I will be adding the winch this summer.

Stock is 130a

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[jstim]

Will going up hurt it if I’m not using all the extra amperage?

Man I feel like an idiot....just realized this was the 4th gen section.