Just wonderin how many amps are the standard alternators on a 77 kombi as i want to install some good spoties and a good sound system and do not want the battery running down on me.

55 I think

As '57 panel' said, 55. Regulated at 14 volts, therefore 770 watts maximum.

With 100 watt spot-lights, that leaves 570 for the sound system, headlights, taillights, instrument lights and ignition (running at night, country with spotlights and audio on). Say 300 for lights and ignition, leaving 270 watts for sound system; say -70 watts for losses and inefficiencies, still 200 watts for audio, enough to give you ear bleed (the 1000 watt figures bandied around for audio systems are "Peak Musical Power" watts, which are about as meaningful as some of George W. Bush's less coherent ramblings; 200 watts continual average consumption is a *lot* of noise).

100 watts is also a lot for a spot-light; is this the legal max. in some states?

Sounds like there is plenty to spare, and this gels with experience where the rally guys used to upgrade from 55 to 70 amp alternators to run *banks* of Cibie driving lights.

A bit off-the-topic, but since you seem to be planning some fast country nighttime running, what's your wildlife strategy, especially since devices such as the "Shu Roo" ultrasonic kangaroo clearing gizmo have been shown scientifically to be hokum?

hth

well as for the wildlife i think the best bet is just hope for the best. I have driven all over oz and a lot at night and have been pretty lucky. The main thing to remember is not to try and dodge if you see someting as this is how most people end up crashing. may be a bit harsh to run over skippy or the easter bunny but better then rolling your car.

Avoid wombats! at almost any cost! they will seriously cause damage.

I drove big trucks for years long distance on the mainland before I moved to Tassie, and I was following a loaded tri-axle trailer closely and seen plenty of daylight underneath the high side tri's on that trailer as a result of nailing a wombat at 100k's just south of Mittagong!

And that wombat stayed pretty much in one peice as well.

Bugger me days they are tough critters.

Dont hit one, youll end up in orbit!

L8tr
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