Ive been wanting to put some lights on my roof rack, but I was wonedering if the stock altenator can hold up? If not, what would I need to do? Bigger altenator maybe?

 

The stock alternator is only 60 amps... The ignition takes something like 20 amps, odds and ends might take another 10 unless you're using the rear window defroster or some high current extra. SO theoretically you'll only have max 30 amps to spare... You can search for "alternator" and will find many wonderful threads full of info for upgrading.

 

To figure out how many amps the lights require, use the equation amps X volts = watts. Two 60 watt lights will use 10 amps. I have had up to 3 sets of 55 watt lights on my truck and it was fine.

 

I have a pair of 130W Hella 500's, they are awesome and super daylight bright, but they suck down about 11 Amps each, 22amps total. I upgraded to the 100 amp MR2 alternator a while back though to keep up with my electric fan.

 

And, how was that to do? Is it a drop or is there a bracket fab?

My Mr. Alternator is junk and it's time to go.

 

GM alternator swap for the win...

I have this on my list even if I don't do the SBC swap next year. This link gives the part number of a GM 105 amp alt:

http://www.toyotaoffroad.com/Article.../Chevy_Alt.htm

I saw a better writeup of this job, but I can't remember which forum it was on and I can't find it... I'll keep looking.

 

It was really easy! You do have to modify the bracket (extend it to be exact), so you can either weld on an extra piece of metal, or if you don't weld you can just make the extension and then drill two holes through the arm and extension to put two bolts in. You also will have to get a longer belt, and drill the connector that bolts on to the alternator a little bigger. I talked about a write up a while back:

Offroad.com Write Up

The alternator isn't super cheap new, around $170, but you could theoretically search some junkyards if you felt up to it.

 

This is the one I hope Santa brings for christmas! MWAaHAHAHA POWER!

 

Yeeeesssss, excellent...

A GM 200 amper is what I'll aim for!

Overkill? No such thing

 

Overkill? My plans are to get a 2000 watt inverter, duel optimas and enough lights to turn street lights off at light. *EVIL LAUGH* ...oh yeah then someday a winch and.......

 

LOL you might as well go for one of the on-board welding systems, they come with something like 500 amp ones I think... You can be a driving 150hp 6 Kilowatt generator !

 

YESSS!
















Would that be overkill?

 

No Such Thing As Overkill

 

I charged 2 batteries running 3 KC daylighters, and a 1100Wp-p stereo no problem on my stock 22r altinator. I had to replace the brushes once though.

 

Excellent! That's what I was hoping for!


That's cheaper than my Mr. Alt. was ($235, 3 years ago).

 

I have 4 front AND 4 rear 100w aircraft lights, 2 - 450w amps for the stereo with 1 stock battery. The stock alt. will keep up with 4 lights on at once for about 20 min. then I start seeing a drop in the volt meter. Thats with the truck just idling and the a/c on. I am putting a hand throttle on this weekend so I can bring it up off idle if I need to.
Just my 2c

 

You might want to give this a try if you really want a good alternator. Not the cheapest out there but you get what you pay for. Mine was a direct fit, no mods at all. I run a winch, lights, 1000 watt inverter, Engel 45 cooler and lots of other junk and have never had a problem.
Just my views on what I've done.

http://www.excessiveamperage.com/