How many horsepower does it take to run a hundred amp alternator?

An alternator takes about 1 HP for every 25 Amps of power. At full output, a 100 Amp alternator will need about 4 HP.

How much horsepower does an alternator take away?

The Alternator itself is only usually about 50-55% efficient. For example a 100A alternator will provide an output of about 1.5kW at 15V, but will dissipate about 750W internally.

How much power does it take to run an alternator?

Conventional alternator may only produce power for about 500 Watt to 600 Watt. But nowadays, a single alternator can produce power up to 2500 Watt, depending on the power demand.

Is a 100 amp alternator good?

Do You Really Need a High-Output Alternator? If you've got a basic, stock vehicle, chances are you don't need a high-output alternator. Most factory alternators are rated at 65 to 100 amps and are capable of handling your vehicle's basic necessities, such as headlights, gauges, fuel pumps, A/C, etc.

How many amps is a 1000 watt alternator?

As a general rule, you need about 100 amps of current for every 1000 watts of power generated.

How to Choose a High-Amp Alternator

How big of an alternator do I need for 3000 watts?

3000 watt / 12V is equal to 250A. A 250A alternator is needed to keep up with it. Since your engine would have to work just as hard as any portable 3KW generator to keep up with the amplifier, you would need a large fuel tank.

How big of an alternator do I need for 2000 watts?

For example, if you installed a 2,000-watt amp, assuming a nominal voltage of 13.5V, you'd add roughly 150 amps of demand to the electrical system.

Can you overload an alternator?

An alternator can be damaged by improperly jumping a car (such as having the wires crossed), which can overload and fry circuits. Also, if the connection from the alternator to the battery is severed while the engine is running, the alternator can become overloaded and damaged.

Is a 160 amp alternator good?

The 160 amp is known to be used on emergency vehicles that are at a standstill and still running lots of 12v power thru said appliances.

What will a higher amp alternator do?

Better Battery Life

That's because an oversized alternator produces more output at lower speeds, including idle. That increased output prevents the battery from having to help supply the load—and this keeps it at a more ideal state of charge. The battery cycles less, which translates into better battery life.

How fast does an alternator have to spin to create electricity?

Most alternators need to spin at about 2,400 rpm at idle, have their maximum output above 6,000 rpm, and should never exceed 18,000 rpm.

Can you use a car alternator to make a wind turbine?

When one uses a Delco car alternator as a wind generator, it is absolutely necessary to modify the alternator to operate at low RPMs. This is accomplished with two intricate modifications: One replaces the stock Delco car alternator stator windings with a stator that has more turns of smaller gauge wire.

Does alternator increase horsepower?

“On some applications, a high-amp alternator can actually add horsepower to your engine's performance.” Sure, it's nominal, but, when it comes to horsepower, every bit helps. “Most alternators are only about 75 percent efficient.”

How many volts does it take to excite an alternator?

This light is used as a resister to excite the alternator to charge. 12 volts is supplied to the light from the key switch. Voltage goes through the light and down the exciter wire to the alternator. The wire is connected to the “L” terminal of the alternator.

Why are alternators so inefficient?

Automotive alternators are inefficient because they're using a 50 year old passive overload protection design. You can put unlimited load on a generator with the field current at maximum and as long as the Voltage does not fall below 12 Volts it won't be damaged by overheating, at least not right away.

What is the highest amp alternator?

Remy International has released the Delco Remy 55SI alternator, rated at 420 amps at 12 volts and up to 275 amps at 24 volts.

Do I need a bigger alternator for two batteries?

A car alternator will be more than capable of charging two batteries. However you need to be more careful about connecting two batteries together if one is charged and the other is not.

How many amps does alternator make at idle?

Most late model alternators produce 120 to 155 amps or more. Current output increases with engine speed, from around 20 to 50 amps at idle up to the unit's maximum output at 2,500 RPM or higher (refer to a service manual for the exact charging output specifications for your vehicle).

Is 15 volts too high for alternator?

Higher than 15 volts indicates a fault in the charging system's voltage regulator or related circuits. If it's substantially excessive, this can cause electrical system and/or battery damage. You mentioned your voltmeter runs at about 15 volts most of the time.

Do you need a bigger alternator for sound system?

If your sound system demands more power than your stock alternator can supply, then you will benefit by upgrading to a higher output alternator.

Is a 220 amp alternator good?

With some extra work there are ways to get decent charge going, but even then the 220A alternator is probably enough for most scenarios if there are no other non-vehicle loads.

How many watts can a 80 amp alternator handle?

it depends on what size your alternator is. considering its a small car probably around 80amps. thats good enough for around 500 watts rms.

Should I get a high output alternator?

When you have an alternator, you're turning mechanical energy into electrical power. However, a typical alternator runs out of juice very quickly. If you have a powerful car, you'll need an alternator with high output to help you get the most out of your vehicle.