Find technical specs on alternator
August 29, 2011 1:39 PM Subscribe
I need to find technical specs and drawings of a car/truck alternator for a pico-hydro project. Details inside...
I am working on a design project building a pico-hydro installation. Due to budget constraints the team wants to use a car alternator to generate the output power. Specifications for alternators are similar across models for particular cars; mostly all run around 14.4V and require at least 2000 RPM for a decent power output. What I need to do is pick a specific model of alternator so we know the size and location of the mounting holes, along with its electrical characteristics.
The problem I am having is any online source I look at only categorizes alternators by vehicle they fit in and doesn't list any technical details. I tried looking at some manufacturer websites, but they also only tell me what cars it will fit. I feel like if I tried to talk to a representative from a company they would just tell me its not the intended use of the alternator and would not give me the specs. I need to know:
Physical Dimensions
Max output current vs. RPM
Torque required under varying loads.
Cost
My goal is to find an alternator that costs around or less then $90. If i was just doing this project on my own I would to go a salvage yard and pick any alternator and then build around it, but the point of the project is to pick parts based on their specifications and design a way to mount it before ordering the part.
I guess the point of my question is: Does anyone know were I can get technical specifications on a brand or series of alternator? Preferably an online source.
I am working on a design project building a pico-hydro installation. Due to budget constraints the team wants to use a car alternator to generate the output power. Specifications for alternators are similar across models for particular cars; mostly all run around 14.4V and require at least 2000 RPM for a decent power output. What I need to do is pick a specific model of alternator so we know the size and location of the mounting holes, along with its electrical characteristics.
The problem I am having is any online source I look at only categorizes alternators by vehicle they fit in and doesn't list any technical details. I tried looking at some manufacturer websites, but they also only tell me what cars it will fit. I feel like if I tried to talk to a representative from a company they would just tell me its not the intended use of the alternator and would not give me the specs. I need to know:
Physical Dimensions
Max output current vs. RPM
Torque required under varying loads.
Cost
My goal is to find an alternator that costs around or less then $90. If i was just doing this project on my own I would to go a salvage yard and pick any alternator and then build around it, but the point of the project is to pick parts based on their specifications and design a way to mount it before ordering the part.
I guess the point of my question is: Does anyone know were I can get technical specifications on a brand or series of alternator? Preferably an online source.
Response by poster: Thank you Floydd! Those specs are perfect but the alternators are quite expensive. If I can't find anything cheaper then we will have to settle for those.
posted by token-ring at 2:24 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by token-ring at 2:24 PM on August 29, 2011
Response by poster: I just did the currency conversions, the cheapest alternator listed on their website is $700! Too bad because those would have been perfect...
posted by token-ring at 2:36 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by token-ring at 2:36 PM on August 29, 2011
Might search around for "alternator mechanical drawings" and similar. Here is a site which has some of the info you're looking for. I think car alternators have been around so long, nobody cares about the details you're looking for. (I.e., if it has bolt holes in the right place, a pulley the right distance out, does not exceed the standard package outline, and is cheap, it's merchantable. Other than that, nobody cares if it's made of unobtainium or gold or kitten paws, as long as it's cheap.)
posted by spacewrench at 3:16 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by spacewrench at 3:16 PM on August 29, 2011
While, Floydd's link is a good source for the dimensional information you wanted, you should be able to find alternators closer to home and much more reasonably priced. I'd be surprised if you had to order a Delco model from overseas.
posted by ob1quixote at 3:34 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by ob1quixote at 3:34 PM on August 29, 2011
How much power to you need? I would get an alternator from a high end luxury car(lexus or infiniti would be my choice) from a junkyard (actually I would get two or three) and hope for the best. For advice about good alternators and power I would talk to a custom stereo shop-those guys are usually pretty good about knowing the output curves and such because it takes serious power to drive big stereo systems, or find an online forum for such and ask your question there. Most auto parts stores also have a test rig you can put alterntors in and you can see the output there, some of them can even print out a graph of the output. It probably wouldn't be too hard to rig something up with a variable speed bench grinder and test circuit to make your own test rig if the parts stores won't help you out. When I worked at sears I figured out how to make our battery tester do that on the car electrical system (not something they trained you in then, but very helpful to find out just why someone was frying alternators-and usually it was too many accessories like big stereos).
posted by bartonlong at 4:06 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by bartonlong at 4:06 PM on August 29, 2011
Extend your search with the keyword(s) "rebuilder" or "remanufacturer". A local rebuilder or trade organization should have the information you need.
posted by klarck at 4:13 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by klarck at 4:13 PM on August 29, 2011
Sorry, I thought you just wanted detailed specs. You can source Delco alternators locally at any auto parts store, or on your favorite on-line auction site, on-line store, or a local auto salvage yard. I think the Delco 22Si from an '80s big GM car or truck would serve your purposes.
posted by Floydd at 4:18 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Floydd at 4:18 PM on August 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Floydd has the right idea. Pick a vehicle which exchanges parts with many other vehicles, so that the alternator itself can be found anywhere. A prime candidate would be the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, which was one of the most commonly stolen vehicles of the 1990s because its parts exchanged with so many other GM vehicles. You should be able to find one of those alternators for like $50, and then just measure it.
The magic words to find the diagrams, if they exist, are "alternator exploded view" or "alternator exploded diagram"
posted by fake at 5:19 PM on August 29, 2011
The magic words to find the diagrams, if they exist, are "alternator exploded view" or "alternator exploded diagram"
posted by fake at 5:19 PM on August 29, 2011
As fake (is that your real name?) says, the Olds Cutlass Ciera had a 100 amp alternator, Delco part number 334-2313, which delivers 100 amps at 12 volts at some unspecified rpm, (I'm guessing 2000.) Get one of those, do your own measurements, and you're good to go.
posted by Floydd at 7:13 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by Floydd at 7:13 PM on August 29, 2011
Well, he says
the point of the project is to pick parts based on their specifications and design a way to mount it before ordering the part
so while it would probably work to buy the part, measure it, hide the part, and then design it in from the measurements, that doesn't exactly match the original goal.
Alternators appear to have a handful of somewhat-standard mounting patterns; eg these (for marine engines), or J-180 (which appears to be for heavier-duty alternators than your typical car). Here's a random collection of drawings from one manufacturer. Googling for information on replacing your classic car's alternator with a bigger/more modern one also turns up some mechanical mounting data.
posted by hattifattener at 1:17 AM on August 30, 2011
the point of the project is to pick parts based on their specifications and design a way to mount it before ordering the part
so while it would probably work to buy the part, measure it, hide the part, and then design it in from the measurements, that doesn't exactly match the original goal.
Alternators appear to have a handful of somewhat-standard mounting patterns; eg these (for marine engines), or J-180 (which appears to be for heavier-duty alternators than your typical car). Here's a random collection of drawings from one manufacturer. Googling for information on replacing your classic car's alternator with a bigger/more modern one also turns up some mechanical mounting data.
posted by hattifattener at 1:17 AM on August 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Here's some more info.
posted by Floydd at 1:56 PM on August 29, 2011