Alternator instead of a dynamo.
- Thread starter Dave1966
- Start date
chrisw
Well-Known Member
Yes, and yes.. but why would be the question
Unless you're looking to fit a lot of extra equipment - lights, electric windows etc - the dynamo will easily provide the power that you need
There is an old thread somewhere on the forum from one of the P6 Club guys - Dave someone? - who did it to his car. I assume your car is positive earth, so you'll need to repolarise a few things too
Unless you're looking to fit a lot of extra equipment - lights, electric windows etc - the dynamo will easily provide the power that you need
There is an old thread somewhere on the forum from one of the P6 Club guys - Dave someone? - who did it to his car. I assume your car is positive earth, so you'll need to repolarise a few things too
mikecoombs
Active Member
yes, later models had Alternators fitted, you just need to get the bits. Alternatively there is a mob called dynogen who remanufacture Dynamos into Alternators.
Caefully note Crisw's point about Positive earth cars. It should be written on a sticker on the inner guard.
Caefully note Crisw's point about Positive earth cars. It should be written on a sticker on the inner guard.
DAK
Active Member
I replaced the dynamo in my car with an alternator during my rebuild project. I never had battery discharge issues with the dynamo even when running for long periods of time with the halogen high beams and driving lights on. The dynamo seemed capable as long as the RPMs were up. At idle, it was a different story. I changed for the alternator as I was tired of the lights dimming and the indicator lights slowing down whenever I stopped at an intersection. The 18ACR I installed does a much better job of maintaining voltage at engine idle speed.
cobraboy
Well-Known Member
On the subject of indicators not blinking at intersections when the car is idling, my Elan suffered with this all through my ownership. It had an 18 ACR alternator and a good correct type battery. The MOT guy would grumble every year as when brake and indicators were on together for the test the indicators would stop, I had to start the engine and hold it at 1500 rpm to get them to flash, even then they were reluctant. All the earths were spotless.
In the latter days I had several cars and got fed up with batteries needing charging all the time and dying from under use, so as they died I did not replace them. A Mustang I had came in from the US with a very high amperage Optima red top battery, I used to put this battery on any car I wanted to take out as it was the only one available. Putting this on the Elan was a revelation, it was way over the spec for the car, but the indicators blinked at idle and the electric windows flew up and down. So before doing a dynamo / alt conversion consider fitting a monster battery.
In the latter days I had several cars and got fed up with batteries needing charging all the time and dying from under use, so as they died I did not replace them. A Mustang I had came in from the US with a very high amperage Optima red top battery, I used to put this battery on any car I wanted to take out as it was the only one available. Putting this on the Elan was a revelation, it was way over the spec for the car, but the indicators blinked at idle and the electric windows flew up and down. So before doing a dynamo / alt conversion consider fitting a monster battery.
classicalgreen
Active Member
are with that sentiment Chrisw. I measured size of battery 'box' in my P6 and bought. Bosch unit with as high an amps rating as possible that would squeeze in. sadly terminals are on 'wrong' side of battery so slight finding to get cables around and locked on. never had any issues and as its an auto I need a decent battery!