| [ Total Views: 842 | Total Replies: 15 | Thread Id: 7300 ] |
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 Starbug
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| posted on June 8th, 2003 at 10:04 PM |
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Generator Vs Alternator
Yesterday, on the highway, i found out that the little light on my speedo that tells me my generator is stuffed, was stuffed.
Needless to say, this meant that my generator was well and truly stuffed and had probably been so for quite a while.
Im going to need something thats going to help my car get from point A to any point on the alphabet (or beyond), charge my battery, let me use my
lights, indicate, listen to some cd's and hopefully not let me trundle to a stop on the side of a busy highway.
So do i buy a brand new generator, or go the switch to the alternator? ive heard differing views on both. But which one is going to go the longest, be
most reliable and give me all the juice i need?
Also, can you use your generator/fan housing dress-up kit on an alternator? i really wouldnt like to part with the nice shiny red bits on my fan
housing and whatnot.
So, your thoughts... which one is the better one to go for?
thanks! |
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phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
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| posted on June 8th, 2003 at 10:14 PM |
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r u in Sydney? if so pop down to Vintage Vee Dub in Campsie and buy a reco generator $250.00
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phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
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| posted on June 8th, 2003 at 10:24 PM |
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PS.
change your voltage reg at the same time...
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Starbug
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| posted on June 8th, 2003 at 10:33 PM |
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Thanks dakdat... unfortunately im not in sydney  and at first i thought it
was the regulator playing silly buggers with me as ive been told they do that, but no... it was the generator... again. |
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70AutoStik
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| posted on June 8th, 2003 at 11:49 PM |
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The advantages of an alternator are:
They charge at idle. Higher output. Less drag on the engine at high revs.
The disadvantages are:
They cost more - the alternator kit costs more and if you don't have an electric fuel pump you'll have to get the later style mechanical
one. You need to do some minor modifications to your wiring.
As to your dress-up bits, they should be OK, unless you have a chrome wrap around the generator - it obviously won't fit.
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Shani
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| posted on June 9th, 2003 at 07:15 AM |
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Out of curiosity, how expensive/ difficult to set up is an Alternator?
I recently had my battery completely drained (Long story *rollseyes*) which fine because I just jump started it from the other car but I got into
trouble after work because I hadn't driven it quite enough for the generator to charge it back up, I'm thinking an Alternator might have
done a better job? ( do have the fuel pump mentioned)
[Edited on 8-6-2003 by Shani] |
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Baja Wes
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| posted on June 9th, 2003 at 06:05 PM |
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Alternator has more amps, charges are lower rpm, and is far more reliable. You should be able to pick up a working alternator and stand for $150-$200.
I have done a 2nd hand alternator conversion to my old 1776 for $150 and never had a problem with it.
Starbuggy, I know I have already told you this, but I thought I'd post it for the benefit of others.
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Andy
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| posted on June 9th, 2003 at 10:13 PM |
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Couldn't help but put this in,
You can drive home on a dead battery with a generator (and a push start), no such luck with an alternator!!
They both have their advantages, but both also do a good job 
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Shani
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 07:26 AM |
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Interesting point Andy, I didn't know that one. Because I did drive home after a push start (now the girls all groan when they see me drive in
with the bug though) wouldn't have been possible with an alternator? Hmmm maybe I should leave it as is then.... |
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Baja Wes
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 08:13 AM |
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you can drive home with a flat battery with an alternator, you just need to get jump started by a good battery to excite the alternator. Once
it's running you can pull the battery out completely and it will keep going.
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Shani
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 09:54 AM |
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That was the problem Wes, I couldn't find a single person who had 'jumper leads' with them that night, seriously considering carrying
them myself, just have to find somewhere safe to stash them. |
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duncombemu
A.k.a.: Mark Atkins
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 11:43 AM |
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There's a guide to the wiring for an alternator at http://www.cbperformance.com
Just click on "Alternator Wiring Guide". You'll have to adjust it for the type of alternator you're using.
I've done it on my Baja and '62 Ragtop from this guide.
Hope this is a help.
Regards,
Mark:thumb
Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."
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Starbug
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 03:54 PM |
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But which one lasts longer? or are they about the same? I dont want to spend $300 on an alternator if it only lasts 5 years while the same priced
generator lasts 10 years or vis versa.
For all intents and purposes, i think im going to go the alternator, but would still like to find out what the life of one of these things is!
hiya Wes, check your u2u ) |
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duncombemu
A.k.a.: Mark Atkins
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 04:09 PM |
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Most cars today on the road, run an alternator. I've had one on my '71 Beetle, for years and it came off a Holden motor before that, without
any troubles.
Regards,
Mark:thumb
Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."
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Baja Wes
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 05:07 PM |
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alternators live far longer.
Starbuggy, send the U2U again, it doesn't seem to have made it. My inbox may have possibly been full.
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70AutoStik
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 11:23 PM |
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Alternator, being later technology, should last longer. But sometimes diodes fail - fortunately they're cheap to replace.
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70AutoStik
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| posted on June 10th, 2003 at 11:25 PM |
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BTW, Wes, what does your second quote say - the blue on grey is unreadable?
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Baja Wes
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| posted on June 11th, 2003 at 08:17 AM |
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I must be running a different forum colour scheme to you, cos it works on mine
"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you win your still retarded"
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vwrallycar
A.k.a.: Andrew Rankin
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| posted on June 11th, 2003 at 09:19 AM |
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i have been using a generator in mine now for 12 years only having replaced the brushes in it.
i had an alternator that i got for nothing but gave it away due to the fact that the generator works fine
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