Alternator Upgrade

[Yooper]

Howdy all -
Hopefully this topic has not been beat to death, but I couldn't find any information after a couple hours of searching.

I am looking to start upgrading the electrical system on my truck. Eventually I would like to get a HO alternator and a deep cycle secondary battery to drive a winch, extra lights, and my radios (ham, CB, etc.)

Right now, I am just working on the alternator, and that is where my current question comes in. How many amps is the stock alternator delivering and what are the available alternator upgrades that will work on my truck?

I like the thought of dropping in a 130A from an Exploder, but I saw this in the tech library:
"On the 4.0, 4.2 (F-150) and later 3.0 Aerostars and Rangers, the alternator is 'fixed' because there is a separate belt tensioner."
The tensioner on my truck is obviously separate from the alternator, so I am a little bit confused as to what is going on.

Any information you can offer would be much appreciated.

Yooper

 

[michowski]

if you go on ebay and search your year you can find a 200amp alternator for roughly 230 dollars brand new. Theres no core charge so you can take the one on your truck now and keep it as a spare. They usually do about 120 amp at idle and 200 max at 1200 or so rpm. Also you will need to run 0 guage wire for the really high electric current this alternator will produce otherwise you risk a high chance of fire. So make sure if you decide this way to also install some 0 guage wire before you put the alternator in.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

from the tech library:

There are 95 amp models in:
1991-1994 Aerostar and Navajo 4.0
1993-1996 Bronco
1991-1999 Explorer
1994-1997 B-Series (All!)
1992-2001 Ranger (All!)
1997-1998 Tracer and Escort (95 amp)

To upgrade use the 130 amp model found in:
1996-1998 Explorer 4.0 (130 Amp Standard)
1998 B-Series (all!) (Optional 130 Amp)
1996-2001 Ranger (Optional 130 Amp)

Although the 130 Amp is physically larger than the 95 Amp (good way to make sure you have the right one!) it will drop right in! Same bolts and belt! 20 minutes for 35 more amps!

 

[Yooper]

I saw that....

Wicked -
I saw that page in the tech library, the part that confused me was:
"in later 3.0 Aerostars and Rangers, the alternator is "fixed" because there is a separate belt tensioner."

I am assuming that my 2000 would be considered a "later" ranger, and I don't know what that business about the alternator being fixed means. Will the 130A still drop in?

Yooper

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

they are talking about the switch the a serpentine system which was done by 1993. the 130amp will drop in.

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya i have a 94 b3000 and the guy who owned it before me put a ford explorer 4L alternator onto my 3L and i have upper lights i had a cb and now i have more speakers and bumper lights and as far as i kno my battery barly goes down

 

[Yooper]

Thanks for all the info guys. After shopping around and crunching a few numbers, I have decided that the alternator will probably be the last part of the system to get upgraded. With the stock alternator and a good deep cycle battery wired up as a second battery, I should be able to run an extra 6 to 8 100W lights, or turn those lights off and run headlights and a 4hp winch for 10 to 15 minutes and not have any problems.

Later on down the road, if I can find an Exploder alternator dirt cheap, I'll throw that in for some extra insurance.

Yooper

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

keep in mind that your stock 95 amp alternator is rated for 95 amps at almost 2,000 RPM. at low speed and idle, you wont be pushing nearly that much power. i think with your 60 amps of auxiliary lighting, 10 amp blow motor, 5 amp fuel pump, plus several smaller loads, that you will be taxing the system pretty hard. this isnt even considering your 200+ amp winch. i would re-consider getting a larger alternator sooner rather than later.

 

[mkpecor]

you dont need two bats to run a winch dud, get a biger alt and you will be fine, unless you are goin to run the winch for houres at a time, even my stock alt 65 amps, would have no prob,