Questions on upgrading to higher-output alternator

[wrcsixeight]

If the battery voltage is dropping so much that the vehicle is acting like it will stall at idle speeds with high DC loads on the system, I would suggest the batteries in said vehicles are weak.

My alternator can not always keep up with my DC loads, but it rarely drops under 12.8v providing when 20 amps that the maxed out alernator cannot at hot idle.

Any weird or suspected electrical issues, all the frame and engine grounds should be found, removed, filed shiny, and retightened, before any other parts are suspected. Include battery cables in this bad ground suspicion.

 

[WyrTwister]

As a teenager , I drove a 1966 Mercury Comet 289 . Alternator went out . I found out I could get a higher amp alternator for very little money . But this was the days when , I think it had an external voltage regulator and no computer .

Fast forward to the present . I read that the newer cars have the alternator controlled by the computer . Not sure how well the up sized alternator would play with the computer ?

I would be hesitant to try .