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Alternator upgrade

Started by noreastfish, March 10, 2020, 09:08:06 PM

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noreastfish

I want to upgrade my alternator to a 100 amp 1wire powermaster alternator. The directions say to run a 6 gauge wire from the alternator to the battery.  Then ground the alternator to the block using a 12 guage wire. What it does not discuss is what to do with the 3 wires coming off of the old alternator.  Black which goes to the battery, green to the voltage regulator and the blue one which goes to the voltage regulator, coil and inside the dash. I do plan to bypass the dashboard  regulator and install a voltage gauge. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 

Chryco Psycho

Question 1 -  is Why ?
Question 2 - Why Powermaster ?
Powermaster have a terrible reputation , if you need higher output there are many better choices such as a modern Denso unit
With a 1 wire alt all you need is the heavy black wire from the alt , the 2 field wires are no longer used & for 100 Amps output you will need a larger gaage charging wire , I usually connect the the Bat terminal on the start relay , that way you will have minimal load going through the firewall connections etc

PLUM72

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on March 10, 2020, 09:16:22 PM
Question 2 - Why Powermaster ?
Powermaster have a terrible reputation
I am in a similar predicament where I need to upgrade an alternator due to the increased electrical demand I added to the car.  The post has some interest to me.  Powermaster might have some quality issues, but they just look cool.  The standard Denso units are ugly!  When you lift the hood at a show or cruise night, the Denso units stick out like a sore thumb.  Paint them black or engine color and maybe they will be okay.
:alan2cents:
-Dave
'72 Challenger
'13 Challenger


Brads70

I went with one of these one wire set ups. Works great, its been in the car for years now with no issues. I deleted the amp gauge and did the wire bypass...  Plan on using
the same one in my Javelin project as well , so both cars use the same part.

https://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=557


noreastfish

I went with the powermaster because everyone and their brother has them at car shows. I would have preferred a stock looking one with no chrome but that's all they had when I went to the local speed shop. My question is do you cap off the original black wire from the alternator? I ran a 6 gauge wire from the new alternator directly to the battery.  Should I have run that line to the starter relay instead. I do want to minimize the amperage going through the firewall.

Chryco Psycho

I run both the black factory wire & the bypass to the start relay
Make sure you run headlight relays also

noreastfish

 :OK so now you have me thinking about staying with the original alternator setup. Do you. know of a 100amp alternator 3 wire setup that I could buy? Would I also have to upgrade the voltage regulator? 


dodj

Do not need to change the VR. Just make sure you have it effectively grounded.
"There is nothing your government can give you that it hasn't already taken from you in the first place" -Winston Churchill

mopar jack


JS29


dodj

Quote from: noreastfish on March 12, 2020, 09:15:16 PM
:OK so now you have me thinking about staying with the original alternator setup. Do you. know of a 100amp alternator 3 wire setup that I could buy? 
The site Brad linked to has original 3 wire type alts, 75 to 320 amps
"There is nothing your government can give you that it hasn't already taken from you in the first place" -Winston Churchill


Shane Kelley

I have been using Tuff Stuff Alternators with great results. Much better quality than the PM's. IMO
All new parts and US built. They come in 1 wire or 3 wire which is the one I use. You can get 100 or 130 amp and they come in black, chrome or satin clear powdered coated for long durability.