More powerful alternator?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
More powerful alternator?
When my car is idle (or sometimes even while driving) my sound system drains my battery, are there more powerful alternators I could swap out on a 305 so it wouldn't do that? I figure it's probably not good for the electrical system or the sound system, plus I would need that if I wanted to put another amp in my sound system. Also, would a 350 engine need a better alternator and is there a more powerful alternator that is compatible with a 350 if I were to swap my engine some day? =P
By the way I already have a pretty big capacitor for the sound system.
By the way I already have a pretty big capacitor for the sound system.
#2
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: belle fourche,s.d.
Posts: 2,230
Received 89 Likes
on
78 Posts
Car: '82 z28
Engine: L83 5.7
Transmission: 700r4-1985
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: More powerful alternator?
How many watts is your stereo? If you have a CS130
alternator i would upgrade that to a larger(and far more
reliable) CS144 alternator-not a direct bolt in,but not
too tough of a swap IIRC.
If your stereo is not a real big one,you might only have
a weak alternator or some electrical problems causing
the trouble.
alternator i would upgrade that to a larger(and far more
reliable) CS144 alternator-not a direct bolt in,but not
too tough of a swap IIRC.
If your stereo is not a real big one,you might only have
a weak alternator or some electrical problems causing
the trouble.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
Re: More powerful alternator?
How many watts is your stereo? If you have a CS130
alternator i would upgrade that to a larger(and far more
reliable) CS144 alternator-not a direct bolt in,but not
too tough of a swap IIRC.
If your stereo is not a real big one,you might only have
a weak alternator or some electrical problems causing
the trouble.
alternator i would upgrade that to a larger(and far more
reliable) CS144 alternator-not a direct bolt in,but not
too tough of a swap IIRC.
If your stereo is not a real big one,you might only have
a weak alternator or some electrical problems causing
the trouble.
#4
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: belle fourche,s.d.
Posts: 2,230
Received 89 Likes
on
78 Posts
Car: '82 z28
Engine: L83 5.7
Transmission: 700r4-1985
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: More powerful alternator?
If it's the original '89 style it will be a CS 130...
The bad thing about a CS130 is they have a powerful
voltage regulator and will try to maintain voltage output
at low rpm-with a heavy current load and the alternators
pulley fan not pulling much air at low rpm,they just
roast and fail
The bad thing about a CS130 is they have a powerful
voltage regulator and will try to maintain voltage output
at low rpm-with a heavy current load and the alternators
pulley fan not pulling much air at low rpm,they just
roast and fail
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
Re: More powerful alternator?
If it's the original '89 style it will be a CS 130...
The bad thing about a CS130 is they have a powerful
voltage regulator and will try to maintain voltage output
at low rpm-with a heavy current load and the alternators
pulley fan not pulling much air at low rpm,they just
roast and fail
The bad thing about a CS130 is they have a powerful
voltage regulator and will try to maintain voltage output
at low rpm-with a heavy current load and the alternators
pulley fan not pulling much air at low rpm,they just
roast and fail
#7
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Tyler, Tx
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 305 TPI
Re: More powerful alternator?
Some shops will custom wind one for you. You can have them wound for 200amps or more if you want to pay for it. You can also help the problem with a kinetik power cell or similar.
Trending Topics
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
Re: More powerful alternator?
What's the difference between a power cell and a capacitor? It seems like my sound system would just immediately drain the power cell like it does the cap.
#9
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Pepperell, MA
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: More powerful alternator?
before upgrading anything else, have you done "the big 3"? stock wiring is good for stock setup, you've got a power hungry stereo thats not stock
upgrade to 4ga or bigger from alt to battery, bat ground to engine block, and bat ground to body.
higher output alternators typically give you better output at higher rpms at the expense of lower output at idle. If you're looking to upgrade the alt, get it done locally and talk to the person rebuilding it. let them know what you're looking to do.
make sure your battery's in good shape too; if the alt has to run the car and charge your battery, its going to get overworked and fail
upgrade to 4ga or bigger from alt to battery, bat ground to engine block, and bat ground to body.
higher output alternators typically give you better output at higher rpms at the expense of lower output at idle. If you're looking to upgrade the alt, get it done locally and talk to the person rebuilding it. let them know what you're looking to do.
make sure your battery's in good shape too; if the alt has to run the car and charge your battery, its going to get overworked and fail
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
Re: More powerful alternator?
before upgrading anything else, have you done "the big 3"? stock wiring is good for stock setup, you've got a power hungry stereo thats not stock
upgrade to 4ga or bigger from alt to battery, bat ground to engine block, and bat ground to body.
higher output alternators typically give you better output at higher rpms at the expense of lower output at idle. If you're looking to upgrade the alt, get it done locally and talk to the person rebuilding it. let them know what you're looking to do.
make sure your battery's in good shape too; if the alt has to run the car and charge your battery, its going to get overworked and fail
upgrade to 4ga or bigger from alt to battery, bat ground to engine block, and bat ground to body.
higher output alternators typically give you better output at higher rpms at the expense of lower output at idle. If you're looking to upgrade the alt, get it done locally and talk to the person rebuilding it. let them know what you're looking to do.
make sure your battery's in good shape too; if the alt has to run the car and charge your battery, its going to get overworked and fail
#11
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Pepperell, MA
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: More powerful alternator?
are you talking about the wiring to the alt, or just the battery to the amps? factory wiring is only 8ga and definitely a weak point for stereo upgrades.
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 z28 305 stock
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sailtexas186548
Problems / Help / Suggestions / Comments
2
08-24-2015 10:11 PM
db057
TBI
10
08-11-2015 10:11 PM