Alt Choices

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

The following is going to be presented as Company A and Company B to prevent biased responses.

I have been told a LOT of information from 2 different alt specialists about my car so if this were you... what would u do?

My car is an 07 scion tC. It uses a special alt that uses a hairpin stator. At this time, there are only these 2 companies that offer alts for this car.

The design of the alt itself- it uses square windings to fill more of the gap inside for increased efficiency and to get as most amperage out as possible as well.

Now, here goes the specs of each company and what they say, u make the call...

Company A-

Offers a 300A alt, 140A @idle, $700 warrantied forever, literally.

Pros -

only 300A alt in existence for this car.

the highest output at idle as well for this car.

Decent price for only 2 possible choices to choose from.

Cons -

Says this large rated alt uses standard size casing...

Claims it will not overheat because if the wire doesn't get hot then the alternator will never overheat.

Has had alts tested before that did not do what they were rated for.

Company B -

Offers a 225A alt, 52A at real idle, 110A at 850rpm, 225A max, $700 warranty is unknown at this time.

This alt is rated for HOT output and is tested on multiple rpm ranges guaranteeing it's output potential.

Pros -

This company spoke to me on the phone for 19 min explaining in VERY specific detail on how my car's alt technology works and how it is physically impossible to fit enough square winded wire inside the alt to support 300A because of the use of the standard size case and the fact that the heatsink(s) on a standard case are not capable of dissipating the heat generated from such a monster if one were to be created in such a case (if the impossible were done that is).

The alt is guaranteed not just by them but the alt technology them self that i would be getting the largest, efficient alt possible for a scion tC.

I have not found a single problem with the company and have been in business for over 30 yrs

Cons -

If everybody was tellin the truth, 225A alt is the same cost as the 300A alt.

Does not apparently offer a lifetime warranty.

What i am getting at is... even if the 300A alt doesnt do 300A... surely it isnt as the most 75A shy of it's rating, right?

The only thing that makes me worry is this-

Company A that claims 300A alt using standard factory case may overheat eventually even though he says they have never done so... So maybe i just worry too much, who knows...

Click to read more...

 

[skittlesRgood 10+ year member]

well lets ask this 1st: do you need 300amps? if you really dont then i would go with company b. they seem more trustworthy. no need to take a risk for overkill/some thing you dont need.

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

yes i do, i have 490A worth of fusing for amps.

 

[missinglink 10+ year member]

A 300amp alt will not help you once it gets hot as hell from the saturated windings internally. And will put out less at idle. 200 amp is about a max out of the size case you need.

If a 300amp alt ran at 300amps for 5min it would be so hot it would probably be hotter than your exhaust after 30minutes of driving. Once it heats up your back with what you started with sometimes less. 300 amp alts are good for spl runs not for DAILY DRIVERS. Even power master says spl only on their 300ampers.

All I can say is find out how long they guarantee the 300amp out put, or what is a amperage they guaranteed before you drop the cash. Bench testing an alternator is not the same as in your car test.

I would get it tested by an auto parts or shop after its installed so you know what it is really doing and what you really have to work with.

Higher out put alts cost to much just to believe what its labeled as, test it I promise you will understand why after!!! And its tested free most places nothing to loose.

Sorry for the speech but just giving you heads up to protect your self.

MLA

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

no problem, need all the info i can get.

I'll find out that info soon.

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

If comp B doesn't have a lifetime warranty I'd say go with comp A. More than likely you'll get at least 225A out of the 300A one like comp Bs - and even if it goes a little below 225...you have a lifetime warranty.

You can always ask comp A if they have a return policy if you're not happy with the actual amperage output of the alt.