Alternator coversion
Discussion
Gents
Anyone had any experience converting a car from Dynamo to alternator. was out in the Healey yesterday with wipers and headlights on due to the crap weather. After a couple of hours driving, I found the battery had discharged enough that it struggled to turn the engine over when it cam to restarting. It did start however and continued to run fine, but it's clear that the Dynamo is struggling to keep the battery topped up when wipers and lights are on. I could get the Dynamo checked out and perhaps rewound if it needs it, but it would seem to make more sense to convert to alternator if that is the case and have better charging as a result.
Anyone have any advice?
Anyone had any experience converting a car from Dynamo to alternator. was out in the Healey yesterday with wipers and headlights on due to the crap weather. After a couple of hours driving, I found the battery had discharged enough that it struggled to turn the engine over when it cam to restarting. It did start however and continued to run fine, but it's clear that the Dynamo is struggling to keep the battery topped up when wipers and lights are on. I could get the Dynamo checked out and perhaps rewound if it needs it, but it would seem to make more sense to convert to alternator if that is the case and have better charging as a result.
Anyone have any advice?
I've done this on few cars - not familiar with Healey wiring but suspect it's somewhat similar to the Cortina 1600E I did it on (and owned at the time).
It's pretty easy to do; a lot depends on how particular you are about what it looks like - I seem to recall someone was offering a conversion for old Jags that uses the dynamo body so looks totally original.
Other stuff you'll need - bracket (fairly easy to obtain and modify as required) and a new fan belt as the alternator pulley will be smaller.
It's pretty easy to do; a lot depends on how particular you are about what it looks like - I seem to recall someone was offering a conversion for old Jags that uses the dynamo body so looks totally original.
Other stuff you'll need - bracket (fairly easy to obtain and modify as required) and a new fan belt as the alternator pulley will be smaller.
I'd be surprised if the Healey specialists don't offer a conversion kit with instructions.
There's also a product that looks exactly like a dynamo - Dynalite. Bit expensive though.
http://www.holden.co.uk/displayProductsByBrand.asp...
Also found this on E Bay. More reasonable.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Stealth-Dynamator-Dy...
Whatever you fit the wiring modifications won't be too involved and a search on google should through up some advice.
There's also a product that looks exactly like a dynamo - Dynalite. Bit expensive though.
http://www.holden.co.uk/displayProductsByBrand.asp...
Also found this on E Bay. More reasonable.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Stealth-Dynamator-Dy...
Whatever you fit the wiring modifications won't be too involved and a search on google should through up some advice.
A decent condition dynamo and control box should be plenty under most conditions - except low rev's, high load (sitting in traffic at tickover with all the electrical gubbins on). A lot of the time, if the car is still fitted with a mechanical control box, then cleaning and setting of the points might be necessary and maybe a change of brushes in the dynamo, both are incredibly cheap and easy to do.
Having said that, I've converted most of my old daily drivers to alternator as secondhand alternators are so cheap and the job is so simple. Do a Google search on "convert dynamo to alternator" and you will probably find a You Tube video of all that is involved.
Having said that, I've converted most of my old daily drivers to alternator as secondhand alternators are so cheap and the job is so simple. Do a Google search on "convert dynamo to alternator" and you will probably find a You Tube video of all that is involved.
I've had a dynamator fitted to the Dart, apart fron needing to turn the alternator within the casing to avoid fouling the oil filler (Dart specific), it works well.
One point tho', you need a smaller pulley on it to make the alternator run at a higher speed.
Apparently they have Bosch innards with a Chinese casing
And they look just like a Dynamo
One point tho', you need a smaller pulley on it to make the alternator run at a higher speed.
Apparently they have Bosch innards with a Chinese casing
And they look just like a Dynamo
"One point tho', you need a smaller pulley on it to make the alternator run at a higher speed"
This is important. I fitted an alternator to my 65 S2 Elan using the original dynamo pulley, & then found that the new unit (tested aok) did not start to charge until the engine was running at 3000rpm (& had the battery go flat after a whole day on an event in France running around all slow speed back lanes)
Fitted a smaller pulley ..... problem solved.
This is important. I fitted an alternator to my 65 S2 Elan using the original dynamo pulley, & then found that the new unit (tested aok) did not start to charge until the engine was running at 3000rpm (& had the battery go flat after a whole day on an event in France running around all slow speed back lanes)
Fitted a smaller pulley ..... problem solved.
Thread resurrection !
I'm currently looking to fit an alternator to my XK150 and I'm considering using one of the alternators that resemble the original dynamo.
There's a massive price difference between the two main products Dynamator and Dynalite. The Dynalite being more than double the price.
Anyone have experience of either ?
Alternatively I may just fit a modern alternator.
I'm currently looking to fit an alternator to my XK150 and I'm considering using one of the alternators that resemble the original dynamo.
There's a massive price difference between the two main products Dynamator and Dynalite. The Dynalite being more than double the price.
Anyone have experience of either ?
Alternatively I may just fit a modern alternator.
I bought one of the expensive ones through WOSP and it was easy to fit and get working - will generate 25 amps after starting but as soon as it has got the battery back up it settles to a few amps.
The clever bit is that I can then turn absolutely everything on - main beam/2 spots/2 fogs/heater blower/wipers /reversing spot and it still sits at a few amps.....
The one I bought you do need to specify pos/neg earth and you may need more extension on your fanbelt to cope with the smaller pulley
The clever bit is that I can then turn absolutely everything on - main beam/2 spots/2 fogs/heater blower/wipers /reversing spot and it still sits at a few amps.....
The one I bought you do need to specify pos/neg earth and you may need more extension on your fanbelt to cope with the smaller pulley
AHealey said:
A H Spares do a kit including bracket for about £160 I think..?
I believe its an easy conversion but you need to consider whether the car is pos or neg polarity I'm told...!
I will be doing mine later this year....
Did my 3000 several years ago. Easy job and took the opportunity to tidy up the bulkhead by removing the control box. Also added more fuses and some relays. Had to change polarity, but that is straightforward as long as you don't have a +ve earth radio or electronic fuel pump with a diode.I believe its an easy conversion but you need to consider whether the car is pos or neg polarity I'm told...!
I will be doing mine later this year....
dartissimus said:
I've had a dynamator fitted to the Dart, apart fron needing to turn the alternator within the casing to avoid fouling the oil filler (Dart specific), it works well.
One point tho', you need a smaller pulley on it to make the alternator run at a higher speed.
Apparently they have Bosch innards with a Chinese casing
And they look just like a Dynamo
No it doesn't work well, it's just burnt out my Pertronix electonic ignition, apparently the power they put out has horrible spikes, due to being a Chinese copy and cheap.One point tho', you need a smaller pulley on it to make the alternator run at a higher speed.
Apparently they have Bosch innards with a Chinese casing
And they look just like a Dynamo
Martin, the Distributor Doctor diagnoses an auto electrician and a couple of extra diodes, but knows this well.
My SP250s used the normal Lucas dynamo, albeit helped by a Motor Club member who could sell me a replacement armature for a soothing price whenever I burned one out. Mind you, as the SPs' current asking prices are some 40-50 times what they were then, perhaps armatures are no longer cheap either.
We used original ignition systems too without trouble - well most of us did.
We used original ignition systems too without trouble - well most of us did.
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