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120amp or 140amp upgrade?

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:27 am
by kingoftarmac
will i run into any problems (like blowing electrical things up) if i upgrade my alternator to a 120 or 140amp from my a e34 or something? thanks guys!!!

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:59 am
by Falkenberg
No, as long as the voltage regulator is functioning ok.

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:45 pm
by Mike W.
No problems, but why? The stock 65A is more than adequit for normal purposes.

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:22 pm
by DEMIURGE
If you don't plan to double or even triple the devices, which will consume 12 (14) V, for example an additional battery, real 1kW audio power amplifier or more, high power xenons and so on - it is unduly.
It will be better maybe, if you share your plans, then we can give more adequate advices. :)

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:33 pm
by kingoftarmac
I just plan on adding motronic 1.3 from a e34. With e34 intake ECU exhaust ETC

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:46 am
by Falkenberg
You can keep the more powerful alternator. I don't think it is much heavier, and that is about the only disadvantage I could think of.

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:10 am
by Mike W.
kingoftarmac wrote:I just plan on adding motronic 1.3 from a e34. With e34 intake ECU exhaust ETC
A larger capacity alternator won't help but it won't hurt either. Technically you should upgrade the wiring from the alt to the battery but I doubt you will be getting that much out of it often enough to really need it.

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:17 am
by Tomslide
the voltage regulator inside the alternator controls the output of the alternator based on load requirements. it will only put out the amps required to replace what your various loads are consuming, in order to maintain a constant voltage.