So I read in PopularMechanic Magazine:

[teh.SLAP.box]

This morning I was reading PopularMechanic Magazine & I saw something about 'charging systems'.. so I was drawn to it, of course.

What I read suprised me.. it was something I've never heard before.

It was talking about GM vehicles alternators (Delco brand)..

What it was saying is there is a way to bypass the voltage regulator & the voltage will increase more & more until you un-bypass the regulator.

What it said was on the back of the alternator there is a "D" shaped hole you can push a screwdriver into & it temperarily(sp) disables the regulator allowing the voltage to go up & beyond 16v.

It even states "caution, do not allow your voltage to surpass 16v or your vehicles electronics will be damaged"..

Is this true?

Click to read more...

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

Alternators aren't my 'specialty'.. so this just kind of confuses me..

If this is true, then what would be the point in buying a 16v alternator when you could just replace the regulator & have a 12/14v alternator charge at 16v?

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

omfg. bump.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

personally, i highly doubt it.

but even if it were true, you would have to find some new way to regulate it at 16v, seeing as how this is only a temporary bypass.

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

but even if it were true, you would have to find some new way to regulate it at 16v, seeing as how this is only a temporary bypass.

i was thinking the same thing, sort of.

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

What I'm thinking is that the alternator would only do 16v+ for a limited time.. rather than a long period of time, like 16v alternators that are BUILT for 16v.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

im thinking someone was pretty mis-informed...

 

[teh.SLAP.box]

It was in PopularMechanics.. one of the editors/writers OF PopularMechanic wrote it?

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

the charlotte newspaper (and several others) printed that Al Gore won the election about 8 years ago, doesnt mean it is correct...

i just have a hard time believing it.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

lol even if it is true most electronics in cars handle about 15.3 volts well after that it's like playing russian roulette

 

[JBGabriel 10+ year member]

I also read this article so this guy aint lyin

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

I also read this article so this guy aint lyin

even so it wouldnt account for the electronics of the car to take over 16v

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I can see it to be true, sure why not? You're bypassing the voltage regulator.

This simply means the alternator output is unregulated, allowing the voltage to climb to whatever the alternator is able to ultimately output. This is completely retarded to do because you are outputting 16V+ into your stock electrical systems and therefore will easily fry them.

Now, if you put in a 2nd Delco alternator, and buy an external voltage regulator, then this could probably net you a 16v alternator for cheap. That way you can run a 16v system separate from your stock electrical and run a battery/amp off the 16v.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

I also read this article so this guy aint lyin

no one said the guy was lying, just that the article is inacurate //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

If you bypass the regulator the voltage will increase as rpms increase, its simply because of the way an alternator works, by spinning they increase output, the regulator regulates (whoda thunk) the voltage output, by regulating the voltage output you increase the current output //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

ive dealt with a few ext regulated alts, and with the regulator unhooked they all acted like that //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif