heavy duty alternator?

[universalcat]

Hi there,

Was wondering if anyone knows how to ID a heavy duty alternator VS. the standard factory model. Just bought a '98 E350 with an after market ambulance type package, and I want to know if the alternator can handle my solar batteries as well.

thanks

[CompuDoc]

Try to get the name and model of the alternator. If it is a Leece Neville then it should also have the amp rating on it. Also look for a sticker under the hood. Mine has a sticker under the hood saying this vehicle is equipped with a Leece Neville alternator and talks about proper belt tension. Mine is also a 165 amp.

[TurboMike]

Ours didn't have the ford or mitsu...it had a pentex unit on it.

[Keil]

I've got a bit experience with alternator stuff. Just finishing a heavy-duty alternator install. Hang in there, this might get kinda long.

If the amb. package is aftermarket as you mentioned, it probably has one of three different alternators.

1. Mitsubishi 215-Amp dual-rectifier, brushless
Factory heavy-duty, Ford E & F series 7.3L Vans & Pickups and some commercial cutaway chassis under EMV and shuttle buses.
Reference part #'s A8TU0091, F5UU-10300-CA, GL-360, Lester 12075
Regulator: OE 33-Amp Field Current device, aftermarket reg w/60-Amp Field Current device, part #IM840 from dealers for www.transpo.de. Transpo regulators are all over US, just find a auto electric shop and ask for part # above. Same for diodes.

This alt. is pretty hard to disassemble. No service documentation available...I looked for the longest time. Way expensive to get serviced. Romaine Electric in Seattle charges $450-500, Seattle Fire and City Light trucks have a few repaired each month. Cheap in wrecking yards, search www.car-part.com.

2. Penntex Industries, dual-rectifier, brushless
PX-220P-5 1988-92 201 amps
PX-220T-5 1992-94 208 amps
PX-520T 95-03 208 amps
PX-627T 95-03 280 amps
PX-635T 95-03 350 amps
All documentation on parts and servicing is at www.penntexusa.com. Easy to service with info from their website.

3. Leece-Neville, brushed models
Case for 7.3L
A00190745 1988-1998 165 Amps
A00190762 1992-1998 165 Amps
A00190770 1992-1998 165 Amps
Ford E/F trucks in 80's and early 90's. Very popular in marine world. Some documentation available at www.prestolite.com.

The latter two companies make very tough alternators and LN's can be externally regulated without much modification, penntex are all external regulated. Unfortunately, these alternators are quite expensive. So if you already have one great...otherwise, they go for $500+ new...or start a hunt on evilbay.

I'm using a Penntex PX-520T with an 3-stage external regulator to charge 4 trojan T105 deep-cycle batteries (400ah) plus the 2 stock batteries. This unit outputs 106 amps at idle. The two batt banks are isolated via solenoid controlled by the external regulator. Alternator sizing is done with the 25% rule...total amp-hours of all battery banks multipled by .25 = alternator amp output. Also, remember to use hot output ratings as most OEM alternators are rated cold (advertised output)...3-stage regulators can smoke them, easy!