Alternators - By Rick Niece of H O Alternators

Stock alternators are designed to work for a long period of time on STOCK vehicles, doing average things. Our sport demands more, but we need to understand our complete vehicle or at least make sure we don't disrupt it. Some people even use there cars for more than stereo competitions. Drag racing, hydraulics, cruising, getting from here to there and yes even getting groceries seem to be popular dual uses for SPL vehicles. These things also effect your alternator choice.

In today's world we have cars with regulators built in to the onboard computer, timed delay regulators, we have PCM's built into the alternator, and we have sensors sensing everything. Its not just some off the wall cars but the big 3 manufactures leading the way and they have been at it for years. You may not only may find that the alternator your looking at may not perform for your needs but it may not perform the functions your cars other systems need. Chrysler, Gm, Ford, Toyota and Honda all have got to the point they have alternators that appear to be the same but have different regulator functions that keep them from operating properly if interchanged. Many manufacturers have figured out ways of disabling these computer functions but at what cost to overall performance of the vehicle?

How do you drive? Do you spend large amounts of time parked or idling. Do you race or drive hard? (rpm's over 5,000) This very important to figuring what pulley size. A large pulley may be needed to slow an alternator down in race type cars, while in a typical cruiser you may need to speed the alternator up by using a smaller one.

How many accessories have you added? Not just the stereo but, everything. Many of the vehicles we see have high energy ignition systems, neon, hydraulic pumps, TV's, and airbags. These all, and many more, draw power and should be accounted for.

A manufacturer should take all these things and much more into account when selling you an alternator or at least you should before buying one.