I need general electrical help

[jtyson8602]

Im having an issue with a vehicle of mine. Not the Dmax. My damn drag car I am attempting to figure out what might happen if I attempt to run my normal alternator and also a supplemental small amperage as well. All on one battery. I know it sounds kind of off but I want to know if I can make it work without boiling the battery or melting anything. I run a hot fire ignition, my lights, and my heavy draw dual electric fan set up. I have a 130amp on it now and it charges fine. But does dim out on me when i turn on the fans. I have another 75amp alternator I am interested in trying to series in. Now both are internally regulated. So if I were to hook them both up would there be any reason it wouldn't work? would the signal still be right if it was split two ways? I haven't found anything online about people who have done it. Maybe for a reason. Or maybe I just need to pioneer the next big thing. please dont just piss on my rainbow but if you know more about electrical than me please share your knowledge. Thanks in advance

 

[McRat]

Im having an issue with a vehicle of mine. Not the Dmax. My damn drag car I am attempting to figure out what might happen if I attempt to run my normal alternator and also a supplemental small amperage as well. All on one battery. I know it sounds kind of off but I want to know if I can make it work without boiling the battery or melting anything. I run a hot fire ignition, my lights, and my heavy draw dual electric fan set up. I have a 130amp on it now and it charges fine. But does dim out on me when i turn on the fans. I have another 75amp alternator I am interested in trying to series in. Now both are internally regulated. So if I were to hook them both up would there be any reason it wouldn't work? would the signal still be right if it was split two ways? I haven't found anything online about people who have done it. Maybe for a reason. Or maybe I just need to pioneer the next big thing. please dont just piss on my rainbow but if you know more about electrical than me please share your knowledge. Thanks in advance

An alternator turns on and off based on what the regulator tells it. High demand has it running alot, low demand has it running very little. As long as the regulator functions right, it won't overcharge the battery. Our trucks have a dual alternator option available, but use the same batteries. The extra alternator is for applications like ambulances that have a lot of draw. If your truck is "normal", the alternators just don't come on as much.

 

[Poltergeist]

Do not series the alternators, that will add the voltage 12+12=24vdc that would be bad. You could possible parallel them. But to me seems easier to split what you run from each alternator. Run the fans off of the 75 amp and everything else off the 135 amp. Or something along those lines. Look at the draw of each item and what would work best on your drag car. Depending on how you set it up the smaller one would not need to be connected to your battery since the larger one would charge it, or the other way around again depending on how you set it up. At first thought that is what I would look at doing.

 

[The Neens]

A few questions-

1)How much amperage do the fans draw?
2)How are they wired ( direct to a switch, through a relay)?
3)What other accessories do you have (water pump, fuel pump, a.c., etc.)?
4)How is the car/alternator wired (factory style, custom)?

 

[jtyson8602]

A few questions-

1)How much amperage do the fans draw?
2)How are they wired ( direct to a switch, through a relay)?
3)What other accessories do you have (water pump, fuel pump, a.c., etc.)?
4)How is the car/alternator wired (factory style, custom)?

I dont know actual amperage pull by the fans. I have been told they are around 80amps but I have no way to know until I put the meter on it cuz 80 sounds pretty steep. They are wired through a relay and a toggle.

Have mechanical water pump, 255lph fuel pump, msd 6al, methanol injection. Thats it as for relevant I guess. No smog no ac.

alternator is wired through a 150 amp fuse which goes to a power distribution block that feeds to the battery, ignition, and starter.

 

[mytmousemalibu]

on our 69 Nova were not running an altinator, its a 468ci BBC on gas, 7AL3, elec, pump fan and fuel and the deep cycle holds out fine! I run a standard 80A GM altinator on my Bu wagon with an optima deep cycle and its all electric accesorys too, 7AL2 on it. Both cars are stripped to bare bones drag racing specs. Wonder why you need so much amps?:hug:

 

[jtyson8602]

on our 69 Nova were not running an altinator, its a 468ci BBC on gas, 7AL3, elec, pump fan and fuel and the deep cycle holds out fine! I run a standard 80A GM altinator on my Bu wagon with an optima deep cycle and its all electric accesorys too, 7AL2 on it. Both cars are stripped to bare bones drag racing specs. Wonder why you need so much amps?:hug:

with a hot ignition that runs out your battery quick by itself, how do you not have an alternator? Especially if you hot lap? I guess if you just bracket or do single races then sit in pit lane and charge I could see it but that doesn't make sense to me. I need plenty of cooling power mostly. My fans pull a ton. and the snow kit pulls a little too. But I run a non intercooled turbo 306 mustang so most of my energy goes into keeping it cool. I cant see the fuel pump being a real issue. and the ignition is a necessity so Im not sure. I wish I knew how to eliminate stuff and still get what I need power wise

 

[Poltergeist]

I wish I knew how to eliminate stuff and still get what I need power wise

Just get one of these:




:rofl:

 

[The Neens]

One alternator is definitely sufficient...Figure out exactly the amperage draw of all the accessories and also take a voltage reading at the battery when everything is turned on...Does performance actually diminish while you're at the track?

 

[68skylark455]

I had similar problems on my burban-lots of stereo stuff and dual fans. The fans pull about 30 amps each. When my subs would hit at high volumn it would pull 100 amps. I tried two batteries seperated but using the same alt. Ended up with both batteries hooked together with a 105 amp alt and I still have problems-I found the solution-Stinger makes two different alternators-a 300 amp and a 500 amp. You will find trying to use two different alts and seperating them for ,say, fans and the rest of the car you will have the same problem because electricty is lazy and since they share a common ground you won't really notice a big change. Spend the big bucks and get the stinger-they are good products. I haven't found the link yet but there are instructions online on how to make a GM internal reg alt put out 300 amps and 14.5 volts with a kit you can buy for like $80-when I find it I will post it.