How to make alternator put out 14.8 volts?

[ForceEdge 10+ year member]

I just received an alt from DCpower and it only stays around 14.4 volts. Is there anyway to make it rest around 14.8?

Thanks

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[GAMEOVERCCA 10+ year member]

change the pulley

 

[ForceEdge 10+ year member]

That would change it? I thought you'd need a regulator of some sort no? DC said the alt runs like that because they made it that way. If I wanted it to run at 14.8 I'd need to send it back to them.. Which I definitely don't want to do. So I was looking for an alternative

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

That would change it? I thought you'd need a regulator of some sort no? DC said the alt runs like that because they made it that way. If I wanted it to run at 14.8 I'd need to send it back to them.. Which I definitely don't want to do. So I was looking for an alternative

i have a Dc power alt. why do you need it to run at 14.8?

 

[ForceEdge 10+ year member]

i have a Dc power alt. why do you need it to run at 14.8?

So it doesn't drop into the 13s. I have a 320 amp alt with a 1600 watt system.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

xs power makes a external voltage regulator thats a plug and play

 

[Dtrom 10+ year member]

So it doesn't drop into the 13s. I have a 320 amp alt with a 1600 watt system.

Well what's your battery bank like

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I just received an alt from DCpower and it only stays around 14.4 volts. Is there anyway to make it rest around 14.8?
Thanks

Rebuild it/have it rebuilt

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

if it was meant to be adjustable then there would be an adjustment. Powermaster has adjustable alts as well in their XS line

Powermaster GM XS Volt High Output Competition Alternators

but you're missing the point. dropping to 13 means you are drawing more current than the alt can provide at that engine speed. even if it was a 14.8V output the drop would be to 13. 13 means your dropping to your battery float voltage. adding an assload of batteries will help you maintain 13V but not 14.4V.

note at idle, the alt provides roughly half. a 320A alt should be plenty for what you have when engine RPM is up. but at idle, with other stuff going on in the car, i can see that drop happening.

the pulley size won't change the voltage but will affect the available output at engine RPM.

the regulator/rectifier handle voltage output.

another factor is the engine has to do work to provide the high current. and the alt needs to have a rectifier/regulator that is fast enough to handle transient peaks. otherwise, your voltage drops even if the alt can keep up with long term draw.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

So it doesn't drop into the 13s. I have a 320 amp alt with a 1600 watt system.

You sure your battery isnt bad?What kind of battery/batteries you running?With that alt,and @1600 rms, you shouldnt be dropping that much,.You have the BIG 3 Done?

 

[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

I won't get into the fact that you shouldn't be dropping at all with a 1.6k system, but assume you get all 320A out of your alt for draw. And lets further say that your amp uses exactly 320A. To simplify, let's say your amp is also 100% efficient. 320A @ 14.4v would get you 4,608 watts from your amp.

If you went through all of the expense and trouble to bump that to 14.8v you'd get 4,736 watts. That's a whopping 128w difference. Not worth it. Well... to me anyway.

 

[ForceEdge 10+ year member]

I have a kinetic htc 1800 As my main battery. It just makes me wonder why I'm dropping if all I have is a 1600rms system with a 320 amp alt. I feel I shouldn't be dropping at all. Even at idle.. Reason I wanted to get it at 14.8 is so its be less likely to drop below 14.4

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

So it doesn't drop into the 13s. I have a 320 amp alt with a 1600 watt system.

Ok... I run a crescendo bc3500, while im sitting at idle playing full tilt im only drop 13.6 or 13.7volt. And i have a 220a alt. You shouldnt drop anything with that big of alt

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

change the pulley

Oh really //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif And just how would that change idle voltage?

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Normally DC will set idle voltage to whatever factory setting is which should be fine.

You have something wrong do be dropping with that alt. Batt going bad, bad grounds...something.