Will I have enough power?
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From: MO, USA
Will I have enough power?
I am leaving on a cross-country trip with three kids tomorrow morning. With all of the electrical gadgets they plan to bring I wonder if the alternator has enough juice to run them all. Thoughts?
Besides the basics, I will be running, or not, Factory DVD player, another self-contained DVD player with two screens and a Game cube. Am I asking for trouble? I'm guessing that the voltage gauge in the dash should give me some clue as to when enough is enough but I'm not sure if it is a real gauge our a dummy light in disguise.
2005 Expedition 5.4 - not sure whether or not it has the high output alternator. How can you tell?
Besides the basics, I will be running, or not, Factory DVD player, another self-contained DVD player with two screens and a Game cube. Am I asking for trouble? I'm guessing that the voltage gauge in the dash should give me some clue as to when enough is enough but I'm not sure if it is a real gauge our a dummy light in disguise.
2005 Expedition 5.4 - not sure whether or not it has the high output alternator. How can you tell?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Are the items 110V AC and you are running a converter, or are they direct 12 V DC items ?
The High output ALT... Usually installed with the factory tow option. Should be listed on the window sticker if you have it. I am not sure of a P/N location to quote that...someone else might know this.
The High output ALT... Usually installed with the factory tow option. Should be listed on the window sticker if you have it. I am not sure of a P/N location to quote that...someone else might know this.
Last edited by SSCULLY; Jun 9, 2006 at 06:04 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 1999
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From: MO, USA
Originally Posted by SSCULLY
Are the items 110V AC and you are running a converter, or are they direct 12 V DC items ?
The High output ALT... Usually installed with the factory tow option. Should be listed on the window sticker if you have it. I am not sure of a P/N location to quote that...someone else might know this.
The High output ALT... Usually installed with the factory tow option. Should be listed on the window sticker if you have it. I am not sure of a P/N location to quote that...someone else might know this.
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Originally Posted by kkirt1
The factory DVD is 12v. The other DVD is 12v via the cigarette lighter. The Game Cube will be running from a convertor. The Expedition does have the tow package but the wife threw away the window sticker so I'm not sure if it came with the HO alternator.
The other DVD player being direct 12 V DC system, look on the bottom of the unit, and there should be a AMP specification.
I would guess something like 1.5 AMPs ?
The converter is the kicker, if you take a look at the input power specification ( again usually on the bottom of the unit ) you will get the max draw for the unit, at max output ( this is the max, not the duty cycle rate ). It might also have a chart listing the rates. The converter is not an efficent device, as part of the power draw is lost, when making 110V AC.
Total up the External DVD player and the monitors ( you listed 2, don't know if you have the specs on this still ) and the converter, and I would guess you are around 15 AMPs or so, which is not a problem.
If the truck had the factory tow package, chances are very good it had the HO alternator, from what I have seen on the F-150's when the factory tow package is on the list, the HO ( 135 AMP ? ) alternator is part of the package. Ford I would guess would do it the same on the Expedition.
