the big 3 ?
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the big 3 ?
i have an 03 f150 5.4 and im upgrading the alt to 200 amp . My question is how many wires do i need to replace or do i just add a extra wire from alt to battery? Please help im kinda lost when it comes to this electrical crap i know just enough to get me by.
Last edited by Sikes; Apr 28, 2007 at 09:31 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
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From: Easton, Pa.
There are a couple ways to look at this.
The larger alternator will supply current to larger loads independent of the charge lead as long as the lead current capacity and fuse values are not excceded beyond a certain point of over heating the lead or melting the existing fuse link.
The charge lead has an effect on voltage drop at the higher charge and recharge currents.
The large fuse could be replaced with a larger value if needed but is there for fire protection more than any other reason. Events such as accident, battery shorts, lead grounding and such.
I would try it without alteration first and see if your application demands upgrade due to voltage drops, lead heating and/or fuse problems.
Using electrical design parameters, 200 amps at at the highest voltages of about 15.5 = 3100 watts of power. Now the alternator is not designed to produce that power level on a continious basis but only on an intermittant basis without over heating, at the very most.
If your application is the reason for incraseing the alternator size, you still need to keep the current draw well below the max value for reasonable life and trouble free operation.
I don't know what you have in mind to get any more specific.
As I know it, the general rule for sizing an alternator and supporting system is to size it for 150% of average current to be safe all around. This usually takes care of temporay high current needs such as recharge of the battery after starting etc. The regulator will usually limit the current to a safe value and lengthen the recharge time as long as the charge lead and it's fuse capacities are not excceded to a point of overhheating and distruction.
The larger alternator will supply current to larger loads independent of the charge lead as long as the lead current capacity and fuse values are not excceded beyond a certain point of over heating the lead or melting the existing fuse link.
The charge lead has an effect on voltage drop at the higher charge and recharge currents.
The large fuse could be replaced with a larger value if needed but is there for fire protection more than any other reason. Events such as accident, battery shorts, lead grounding and such.
I would try it without alteration first and see if your application demands upgrade due to voltage drops, lead heating and/or fuse problems.
Using electrical design parameters, 200 amps at at the highest voltages of about 15.5 = 3100 watts of power. Now the alternator is not designed to produce that power level on a continious basis but only on an intermittant basis without over heating, at the very most.
If your application is the reason for incraseing the alternator size, you still need to keep the current draw well below the max value for reasonable life and trouble free operation.
I don't know what you have in mind to get any more specific.
As I know it, the general rule for sizing an alternator and supporting system is to size it for 150% of average current to be safe all around. This usually takes care of temporay high current needs such as recharge of the battery after starting etc. The regulator will usually limit the current to a safe value and lengthen the recharge time as long as the charge lead and it's fuse capacities are not excceded to a point of overhheating and distruction.
