Romix

I'm wanting to know what alternator/battery setup everyone is running and what components you power.
The most I'll be running is

• winch
• HID lights
• stereo
• cb radio

I'm probably going to run the GM 3 wire alternator setup since I have one sitting in my garage already. Do I need dual batteries? Would running a winch toast a single battery even with 140-150 amp charge rate?
Thank you everybody.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Do a search for "Boyle HD alternator" and start reading

myyota

I just ordered a rebuilt toyota alternator from a company that rebuilds them with higher output internal parts, the one i got is rated at 130 amps. I will need to upgrade some of the alternator wiring but thats no big deal. As for the battery, i have an optima red top battery.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...r-pics-140704/

abecedarian

So you're going to be running a winch, HID lights, stereo and CB all at the same time?
I'm going to guess the engine will be running too, right?

In the past, I've found it hard to listen to the stereo at loud enough volume and talk on a CB while I'm running a winch, so for me it's one or the other or the other.

Sounds to me like all you need is a good battery.

'Cause if your winching yourself out, you could have the engine and lights on and since you're stuck you've already called on the CB for help and they're on the way and if you have to have the stereo on while you're rescuing yourself... you could always dub the soundtrack over the video once you get home.

Romix

What company? Is having the toyota ones rebuilt a better route than to use a GM alternator?

camo31_10.50

well the alternator will help A LOT more than a good battery LOL

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Unless you have a long pull to get yourself unstuck, then your battery dies and you are up poo creek with no paddle....or battery.

I think a battery and alternator upgrade are good investments if you plan on using the truck offroad. Especially if you wheel in the dark when you WILL be using your lights. Its always OK to have more than enough power to get home. Rarely does having too little work out for anyone, and you always think you have enough in the stock system...right up until you have to use it.

camo31_10.50

EXACTLY..i agree with DC 110% lol


it's better to have a little bit too much..than a little bit too little

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Who said anything about a crappy battery? Would you wire the other battery in? Because at that point, you would be spending the same amount of time and energy building a mount and wiring it in, as you would just getting a better alternator. If not, thats simply foolish. Having a battery bouncing around while wheeling is just asking for problems. Batterys are full of acid, and that is not something you want splashing around in your truck.

No idea what the unhelpful bulldyke part refers to, but Boyle takes your stock alternator and makes it so it puts out 2X stock and then some. There is a lot of info here on the site about their quality, and how well they work. And in that case, its just a matter of upgrading cables (which you would have to do anyways) and you have a reliable charging system, capable of keeping up with a winch and offroad lights.

abecedarian

Like I alluded to- turn the stereo off, maybe even the CB too (though I don't think a CB on receive draws more than an amp).
HID lamps draw the same or less than stock lights too, unless we're talking about aux lighting... in which case it would seem the HID's didn't help you see what was coming and thus didn't keep you from getting stuck so turn them off and use LED flashlights.
So a good battery and the stock alternator would suffice.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

You didn't address the issues I brought up

What about long pulls? OR repeated pulls? I have killed my battery using my winch, and as you and I both know it doesn't always work to simply "see whats coming first"

One of the next things I plan on doing is an alternator upgrade, as well as the quality Optima I already have.

abecedarian

battery becomes drained- stop pulling for 15 minutes or so.
or rev the engine up while pulling?

How many amps does a winch draw?

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

And if the draw is more than the 60 amps the stock alternator is putting out?

Again, the goal is recovery here at a legitimate rate. Not go 5 feet wait 1/2 hour, go 5 feet wait 1/2 hour. If you had to stop, even for 15 mins for every pull, it would take a long time for a full winch pull. And that assumes one winch pull gets you out of where you are!

abecedarian

Are we talking single pull line or double pull?

abecedarian

I wish I had a detestable wench with her own mounted battery.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Depends on the situation. I have only double pulled once myself.

Assuming we are talking single line pull, and there is too much distance/not enough line for an effective double pull, I stand by my opinion. The stock system just isn't enough IMHO.

abecedarian

So again I will ask, how many amps does the winch draw?

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Done, and Done.

abecedarian

what about that is detestable? and how is that a wench?