Mechman Voltage booster? Is it worth it?

[basshead442]

i just ordered one for my 3g case on my explorer. from mechman..... he said it will not hurt your alt because your alt is capable of handling up to 15.3 volts anyways no problem. it also does not strain it by making it charge higher because it still puts out the same amperage. its just a pigtail to trick the computer to charge your alt at higher voltages so you will get less voltage drop on burps and even daily beating.
hope this helps.

tell me how well it helps once you get it installed. if it makes a decent difference then i might get it.

 

[basscort2009 5,000+ posts]

ok i used to have a mla that did the same thing. worked great for me and never messed up my agm batts. they were charging at 15.5 volts and i had a tiny 90 amp alt for a while. never messed anything up

 

[basshead442]

ok i used to have a mla that did the same thing. worked great for me and never messed up my agm batts. they were charging at 15.5 volts and i had a tiny 90 amp alt for a while. never messed anything up

What about increase in output? Was that noticeable? And I have a tiny little 90 amp too. By output I'm referring to subwoofer output and amplifier output.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

just be careful running too high of a voltage. my H/O alt has an external regulator which i had turned up to 15.2 and it was causing some of the functions of the car to not work properly. including my wipers and my rear defrost. i turned it back down and they work just fine. they just dont like to get above 15v.

 

[Joseph M 10+ year member]

90 alt, is still only going to put 90 amps out, regardless of the volt.So yea it might charge at 15 volts... but its still only 90 amps, correct me if im wrong, but your drawing 150 amps. Its like putting a bandaid on somthing that needs stitches. Better off to get another battery or save for a better alt.

Not only that, going from 13.6 to 14.0 on "Burps" isnt going to gain much on a term lab, and especially not to the ear.

 

[i2ain2thunder 10+ year member]

I'd save up for a HO......actually I'm in a similar boat and thats what I'm doing.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

If his voltage is dropping to 13.3 it's probably because that's when it hits the battery resting voltage. His alternator just cannot supply enough current to keep up with the demand. So if you raise the voltage it's only going to have further to fall when your amplifier draws it's peak power. I still say it's a bandaid solution and not worth it especially since (like it's been said) a lot your other automotive electronics are not designed to handle that kind of voltage...

 

[Haunz 10+ year member]

His alternator just cannot supply enough current to keep up with the demand. So if you raise the voltage it's only going to have further to fall when your amplifier draws it's peak power.

This.

And I mistyped my previous comment... max current draw will not increase but average draw can and will increase.. and I stand by my assertion that your alternator will be working harder...

With that in mind I'd also consider getting a smaller pully instead...

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I wouldn't charge 12v batteries over 14.9v or so.