T&T: Seattle area - need an alternator replacement quickly

[Wayne Beardsley]

Your customer went to the wrong alternator shop.   Delco CS-144s can
be purchased pre-built with heavy duty stator coils and diodes from a
variety of different sources.   I have been running a pair of them
rated at 150 amps, using dual belts, with no problem at all.   They
cost about $250 each.  Do a Google search on "Delco CS-144".   There
is nothing special about Balmar alternators.  They are reworked
automotive units made by Lestek with a fancy paint job and a *big*
price markup.

=====

On Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 11:44 PM, <2elnav at netbistro.com> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Beardsley" <wayneb at pipeline.com>
>>
>> A good replacement choice for an alternator with a 2 inch foot is a
>> Delco CS-144.   They are almost universally available and any good
>> alternator shop can install the drive sheave of your choice.   You
>> will be pleasantly surprised at the price compared to a Balmar.  Most
>> are internally regulated but a good alternator shop could customize
>> that also.
>
> REPLY
> I would caution against doig gthis mod.
> A customer of mine installed brand new CATs  in his older selene.  He
wanted
> to  upgrade to a 3 stage regulator on both engines since he had a 2000 amp
> hour battery bank.  Due to space limitations there was no room to install
an
> aftermarket  alternator so he decided to  get the OEM 100A Delcos  upgraded
> to use an external regulator.
> He took the alternators to the best  rebuild shop in the area.  They told
> him the stator windings were far too skimpy  to handle continuous  100A
> charging current for hours on end.  They recommended  he  get the stator
> rewound with  a heavier gauge wire.   He did so  and the end result worked
> just fine. BUT. . .  the cost of the rewind and modification was equalled
> the cost of the Balmar regulators.
> He did not save any money over buying a Balmar alternator to begin with. It
> was only because of  physical mounting problems  that justified this
> exercise in frustration.