alternator
 

Who's one wire alternator would be the best one to use for a stocker?
Thanks

Re: alternator
 

I've had good luck with PowerMaster.

Re: alternator
 

I've had great service from PowerMaster as well. Mine is the smallest 50amp they have and I do have to charge between rounds to keep the battery topped off. But I figure it takes the least amount of HP while still being functional.

Re: alternator
 

I agree with Alan. I've also been very happy with their customer service.

Re: alternator
 

PowerMaster X4 here!


I've been experimenting with pulleys trying to get a balance between charging rate and parasitic drag. Also looking at a WOT cut-out switch to see if there's anything there.

Re: alternator
 

I think that's the better way to go rather than too small amperage wise.

Re: alternator
 

Ok guys thanks for input i will pic one up

Re: alternator
 

Lew, a normally closed relay in that single wire, connected to a universal starter button under the accelelorator pedal makes it "old man forget proof". Pedal on the floor opens that normally closed relay to disable the alternator. Some EFI car ECUs have some AC clutch code that can be used to open that relay above a chosen RPM, etc.
A switch could also be mounted by the carb, to kill it @ WOT, but would also be just one more thing to deal with during tear downs, and working on the engine.
I finally just went to 16 volts.

Re: alternator
 

Contact Mark at House of Payne, he can get th Powermaster up to 75amps in the small version. I like this one for EFI to have the charging capability.

Re: alternator
 

Gee whiz,

All this time I thought that was illegal???..

Silly me...

Re: alternator
 

Wowsers!!


What did you think was illegal? The rule book states that you HAVE to have an alternator so that's what we are checked for. That, and to make sure the belt isn't slipping. I've never had mine tested for output.

Re: alternator
 

Why would you want to cut power a full throttle? 14 volts is better than 12 or less, to run all the electrical stuff when it's extremely needed. The value it picks up will more than offset any drag loss. Moreover, any alternator will not charge up the battery with the little running time the car sees. It stops the bat. run down you would see without one. 16 volt, that's another story.
Mike

Re: alternator
 

An alternator uses approx. 3 to 5 hp when energized and it's producing current.

Re: alternator
 

I tested that, my car picked up a couple hundredths cutting it off @ WOT. I would not bother doing that without testing it.

Re: alternator
 

Why a one wire? You can cut power to the exciter circuit eliminating any load at WOT.

Re: alternator
 

Most race cars don't still have all that factory wiring, one wire alternators are more popular for race cars, engine swaps, etc.

Re: alternator
 

Interesting, did you remove the belt when testing? If not, I would say there's a tremendous amp draw at wot to lose that much ET. Meaning batteries are not up to charge or a big drain (fans, pump, computers).
Something doesn't sound right to me?
What rpm are you turning? Alternator could be tuning way to fast and that's the power loss, 3000 rpm is way more than needed.

Re: alternator
 

Picked up a couple hundredths means Ed went faster by cutting it out at WOT.

Re: alternator
 

Consistency

Re: alternator
 

It was my old '56 Chevy Jr Stocker. 265". Only belt also ran the water pump. Had points, Condenser, and a conventional coil. If MSD existed back then (1964/1967) I had not heard of them. Never spun it much past 6K, it was a solid lifter Corvette engine combo, but we had to use stock valve spring specs. Nothing like we use today.

Re: alternator
 

Hmm, more to think about then. I guess the next train of thought would be the more engine hp the less hp loss. I know my 64 Savoy with a 440 never had any different ET on or off, (small crank pully and big pully on the alt). As far as consistency, I ran 7.59 with a 1 or 2 all day, alt on, just a bracket car.
By the way, loved Jr Stockers back then.
Mike

Re: alternator
 

Powermaster makes a single wire alternator with and adjustable regulator. I run mine at 15volts, not enough to hurt the battery because its not running that long. If I remember correctly 750 watts equal one HP. So a 100 amp alt. at 12 volts is 1,200 watts less then two HP.

Re: alternator
 

Not disputing your math, but turn that alternator on & off the engine, sitting there running, certainly would speed up & slow down as the alternator was turned off & on.
ET slips certainly showed more than I would expect from 2 hp.

Re: alternator
 

On the one wire alt. if your battery is in the back how are you wiring it? I run a powermaster one wire, been on the car for almost 20 years and had to replace the regulator once. I've spoken to Powermaster,Mechman and East Coast electric and they say to run direct to battery, not the cutoff switch. They said that shutting the power off while the car was running could hurt the alternator and they don't recommend it. Called NHRA and they were very vague about having power at the alternator all of the time even with the main power switch off. I know many tracks when they tech will shut the car off from the cutoff switch as their test.
I'd say shutting off the power to a 1 wire alternator at WOT would not be recommended by the manufacturers.

Re: alternator
 

Jr Stockers were not allowed to move the batteries. Still under the hood. Ten gauge wire to Batt +.

Re: alternator
 

OK, I understand about if the battery is in stock location you don't need a cutoff at the back of the car.
You mentioned cutting alt. power at WOT with a 1 wire alt. Doesn't matter where the battery is cutting power to a running 1 wire alt. is not recommended and can hurt the regulator.
If the load of an alt. is enough to warrant cutting it off the easiest way is with an alt. wired like the factory did it. On a GM style all you need is the heavy wire like a 1 wire and a wire powered by ignition feed with an idiot light in the circuit or a diode to prevent feedback which would keep the ign powered.
Generally the only reason an alt has much of a load is if the battery is low or you're running a lot of accessories. My car is a bracket car and I charge between rounds while cooling mostly to eliminate the draw on the battery. This way the alt. only has to replenish what is drawn from starting the car and what the ign and possibly the taillight draws.

Re: alternator
 

2 Electric fuel pumps ( did not have the pumps we have today), and the ignition system. Small, light weight battery up front. Much more stock than today's Stock 265" engine. Not sure what you don't get. And, no, we did not have battery cut offs at the back of the cars then.

Re: alternator
 

I had to go check my rulebook to make sure that I haven't been reading it wrong for the last 40 years....

Section 11A Page 4 2018 NHRA rulebook

FAN, GENERATOR, WATER PUMP
Alternator or generator must be engine-driven and functioning.
Belt must be tight enough to drive equipment in a satisfactory
manner without excessive or noticeable slippage. May be
relocated. Aftermarket pulleys permitted. Electrically driven fans
and water pumps permitted. Water pump must bolt on, with no
modifications to block. Use of “smog pump” or air pump for
crankcase evacuation
prohibited.

Re: alternator
 

Yep that alternator functions. Want to check it at WOT? Sure.....stand really close right there!:rolleyes:

Re: alternator
 

There ya go!!

Re: alternator
 

If your engines only makes 140 HP you could lose 2-3 hundredths, if you're making 500 HP, not so much.
Had a El Camino 350 2 bbd, turn the AC on it would drop from 60 to 55 mph, with the 454 it never made a difference.
Another example, a grownup can pick up a 50 lb bad of feed, a 4 year can't. = HP

Re: alternator
 

And, cut it off in an EFI car, injectors open slower, leans the car. I played with that on the car I race now. Even after I tuned the WOT air/fuel ratio, I found nothing. Put two 16 volt batteries in it, picked it up a couples hundredths, no alternator & belt in the way. Starts quicker. Has to be hotter spark & starter speed.

Re: alternator
 

Hi all,

Do you guys want to know a way that's so easy that a caveman could check an alternator for output??????

Re: alternator
 

Like maybe touching the case with steel bar screwdriver?

Re: alternator
 

I guess that you're an old guy using old guy tricks???

Re: alternator
 

Thanks. I didn't know I was old until you told me. LOL. My pops and brother were into the auto elec rebuilding business and I guess my brain retained some of their knowledge.