[timmy2toes]

Thats one sexy alternator. Im having trouble locating the engine geound wire. Cany anyone help? And for the alternator positive i read the best way to get to it is to take off the doghouse is that true?

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Wow; this is just priceless. You have a terrific way with explaining. You'd be a good tech-science teacher!

I wish we had more clear-thinking people like you in my line of work! Thanks very much.

 

[gman]

I have a small amp that I got for a great deal. It really doesn't output much, and I just wanted basic decent sound in my car for the long drives.
FM transmitters don't work very well otherwise that would have been good enough for now.

I'm going to go get wire anyways to install the amp/speakers/headunit.
Should I get some extra wire to do this upgrade?
I mean, it's worth it just for the strong ground and improved electronics even if I don't have an amp at all right?
If it costs < $10 in wire for me I'm definitely willing to do it if anyone thinks that it will be something that can come in handy later to prevent electrical issues.

 

[Wiley]

I have a small amp that I got for a great deal. It really doesn't output much, and I just wanted basic decent sound in my car for the long drives.
FM transmitters don't work very well otherwise that would have been good enough for now.

I'm going to go get wire anyways to install the amp/speakers/headunit.
Should I get some extra wire to do this upgrade?
I mean, it's worth it just for the strong ground and improved electronics even if I don't have an amp at all right?
If it costs < $10 in wire for me I'm definitely willing to do it if anyone thinks that it will be something that can come in handy later to prevent electrical issues.

It is never a bad idea to do the big 3 upgrade. I have stock everything when it comes to audio and did it to mine, though I did tie my engine battery to an auxiliary battery, my needs are pretty modest. I don't know what it will cost you, but I doubt it will be less than 10 bucks....personally you should save up a little and do it right once, rather than use cheap thin wire.

It's more of an investment, but now that I have a wire cutting tool (Harbor Freight 8USD), a wire crimper (TEMco Hammer Lug Crimper Amazon 20USD) I can make any length wire needed, as thick as I want. My big 3 wires are all thick, cause all I had to do was buy the wire and make them myself.

 

[AstroWill]

I never realized that the OP was copy pasta from the12volt.com, which is a great site BTW https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/fo ... ?tid=73496

Conveniently leaving off number 20 though:

20. Now'd be a good time to turn it on and make sure it sounds good! Then of course log onto the12volt.com and post that you have upgraded your Big 3!

 

[gman]

I have a small amp that I got for a great deal. It really doesn't output much, and I just wanted basic decent sound in my car for the long drives.
FM transmitters don't work very well otherwise that would have been good enough for now.

I'm going to go get wire anyways to install the amp/speakers/headunit.
Should I get some extra wire to do this upgrade?
I mean, it's worth it just for the strong ground and improved electronics even if I don't have an amp at all right?
If it costs < $10 in wire for me I'm definitely willing to do it if anyone thinks that it will be something that can come in handy later to prevent electrical issues.

It is never a bad idea to do the big 3 upgrade. I have stock everything when it comes to audio and did it to mine, though I did tie my engine battery to an auxiliary battery, my needs are pretty modest. I don't know what it will cost you, but I doubt it will be less than 10 bucks....personally you should save up a little and do it right once, rather than use cheap thin wire.

It's more of an investment, but now that I have a wire cutting tool (Harbor Freight 8USD), a wire crimper (TEMco Hammer Lug Crimper Amazon 20USD) I can make any length wire needed, as thick as I want. My big 3 wires are all thick, cause all I had to do was buy the wire and make them myself.

Thanks for letting me know. I will probably do this just to improve the overall electrical performance of my vehicle.

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Some good stuff here!
I'll be looking at this as I add a DC-DC charger for my LiFePO4 house battery I plan on adding to make sure it's getting enough power.
Also, how can I tell my alternator output?

 

[AstroWill]

Stock? 105amp.

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

I'm still trying to figure out all this house battery stuff with LiFePO4 and a DC-DC charger.
Apparently the DC-DC charger can suck as many amps as it's rated to charge at, 60a in the case of the charger I'm considering.
I was looking at beefing up the charging system with what's in this thread, and maybe going to AD244 alternator after finding this thread: https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=10146

Being a conversion van, it may be an upgraded stock, or aftermarket.

 

[AstroWill]

Most likely they didn't upgrade the alternator. The AD244 is a great upgrade, and will actually help you quite a bit. Much more than the 'big 3'.
The most important thing is going to be following the MFG recommendations of the charge rate for your batteries.

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

For the 2nd battery, or primary?
I hadn't thought about the primary, but the secondary I've been looking at max and recommended charge ratings and actually looking at a lower charger now.
The thread I found on the AD244 was fairly dated, any recommendations on a good place/brand to get one currently? No pun intended...
Thanks a lot Will, huge help you are!

 

[Mmusicman]

Most likely they didn't upgrade the alternator.
The AD244 is a great upgrade, and will actually help you quite a bit.
Much more than the 'big 3'..

Agreed! You beat me to it Will.

As someone who had done the AD244 alternator upgrade.. it completely solved all my issues.
Probably the single best upgrade you can do.. if stock isn't satisfactorily working for you.

But in the process I also found a minor issue with my chassis ground.
The alternator producing more output may have exposed the fault.

Battery, alternator, engine grounds, chassis grounds... all part of the same system.
Any weak link, anywhere in the system, can produce issues.

It seems, the "Big 3" isn't really that complicated to do at all.

 

[stent]

The thread I found on the AD244 was fairly dated, any recommendations on a good place/brand to get one currently?

ACDelco 335-1092 at Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet, $250.31 :

https://sdparts.com/i-24087512-acdelco- ... -1092.html
ACDelco 335-1092 at Amazon $169.92 :

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-335-1092 ... B007QBR8TW

note that i can't find any 335-1092 new alternators that still have the "delphi" case castings. everything now seems to be unmarked & comes straight out of a container from mainland China for what it's worth. the picture in the Amazon listing with the Delphi case is not what you'll receive according to the customer reviews. the scoggins dickey chevy listing doesn't attempt to mislead, but their price for the same thing is $80 more....

1" longer belt at amazon $25.44 :

https://www.amazon.com/Continental-4060 ... B000C30J5Q

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Funny you mention Delphi, I'd come across this searching earlier today.
https://alternatorparts.com/ad244-serie ... nator.html

 

[sixsix]

Some good stuff here!
I'll be looking at this as I add a DC-DC charger for my LiFePO4 house battery I plan on adding to make sure it's getting enough power.
Also, how can I tell my alternator output?

And I am looking forward to hearing how it turns out. It seems kind of expensive the 1st time you "Buy & then Use"
Referring to the Wiring Upgrade and making or buying cables.

 

[Mmusicman]

A lot of good AD244 alternator options on-line.
Price ranges all over the board... I almost jumped on a few.

But I opted to buy locally (for excellent price of $145), with lifetime warranty, from a local/national chain.
Reviews were good, price was good, it was in-stock (5 blocks from my house).. and if it failed out of box (or ever fails).. I can simply exchange it over the counter and walk out with new one. Lifetime warranty too. It works great.

I'm good with my choice.
https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=143944

Also, some of the higher priced higher output models were said to have less output at idle.
The stock units however, were said to have quite strong outputs at idle.. which was important to me.
Some of the higher powered units had smaller pulleys which spins them faster too.. shortening their life.
Many of the on-line units had very poor warranties too.

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Thanks MM, just got me one. With 25% off was $188, I have a core charge where it looks like you didn't. Probably won't take a different one for the core. They had it at my local store but got it shipped for free.

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Needing a little clarification on 2) & 3). Both say to chassis, is this to the subframe or unibody?
Or should it be The Big 4 and add 4) subframe ground to body

 

[AstroOafAdventurer]

Anybody? How good is the ground from subframe to body? Should this be the 4th to make it The Big 4?
Huh, huh, huh? Come on, enquiring minds want to know!
I guess it's got to pass ground, but being it's mounted with bushings, does it have a separate ground?

 

[sixsix]

Anybody?

ha... ha