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lehmans(at)sympatico.ca
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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:35 am Post subject: Alternator Failure |
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Bob N. wrote:
"In other words, if I had a brand new
alternator and a charter to damage it in some way on the test
stand, what kinds of abuses might I heap upon the unsuspecting
device to bring about its untimely demise?"
Just for grins, here's a simple example applicable to the GM CS130 alternator (IR). It is physically small but rated at 105 AMPS. It runs very hot at 40 AMPS (Olds 98 'normal' load!) resulting in short diode life (without load and cooling mods plus up-rated diodes). My re-built spare (kept in the trunk) came with a tag attached to the alternator, "CAUTION: this alternator is NOT a battery charger". In other words, do not "jump start" the vehicle because normal running load plus a discharged battery will likely fail this alternator.
P.S. I have never come across this issue with non-GM cars. I have two 20+ year Toyotas with original ND alternators (brushes replaced once).
Mike
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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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| Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: Alternator Failure |
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At 08:34 AM 1/7/2007 -0500, you wrote:
| Quote: |
Bob N. wrote:
"In other words, if I had a brand new
alternator and a charter to damage it in some way on the test
stand, what kinds of abuses might I heap upon the unsuspecting
device to bring about its untimely demise?"
Just for grins, here's a simple example applicable to the GM CS130
alternator (IR). It is physically small but rated at 105 AMPS. It runs
very hot at 40 AMPS (Olds 98 'normal' load!) resulting in short diode life
(without load and cooling mods plus up-rated diodes). My re-built spare
(kept in the trunk) came with a tag attached to the alternator, "CAUTION:
this alternator is NOT a battery charger". In other words, do not "jump
start" the vehicle because normal running load plus a discharged battery
will likely fail this alternator.
|
Hmmmm . . . how often do you get a manufacturer to
ADMIT his product isn't designed to live in the real
world in which it is expected to function? As you
noted early on, this alternator was probably starved
for cooling and the folks that sold it to you were
admitting that you couldn't expect it to survive a
situation that should be and is a piece of cake for
other systems.
| Quote: | P.S. I have never come across this issue with non-GM cars. I have two 20+
year Toyotas with original ND alternators (brushes replaced once).
|
One of the tests we have to do when installing
an new alternator on an airplane is to accomplish
extended best-angle climbs with the alternator loaded
to it's nameplate rating. We then extrapolate that
data to worst case, hot day situations to deduce
whether or not the alternator is adequately cooled.
For a manufacturer to offer the caveat you cited
does not speak well of their sense of responsibility
as engineers.
Bob . . .
---------------------------------------------------------
< What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >
< the authority which determines whether there can be >
< debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of >
< scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests >
< with experiment. >
< --Lawrence M. Krauss >
---------------------------------------------------------
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