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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Cars / March 2007Bigger alternator?
Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? I have an 120 VAC air cleaner in the back seat, running off an inverter, and when I also have the lights on at night and the rear window defroster on, it can start lowering the engine RPM's and making the inverter beep all the time, and the lights get dimmer. If I add the hazard flashers to the headlight usage at night, the engine RPM's go up and down with the flashing. The guy at Goodyear today says that it may just be that the alternator doesn't have the capacity to handle all the usage. AND I want to add a spotlight and a dash mounted map light, maybe even a laptop to the car too.  Signature- Mama Bear > Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find > for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > AND I want to add a spotlight and a dash mounted map light, maybe even a > laptop to the car too. I am not sure of the specifications, but if your Corolla is Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. spec (as opposed to Hawaii, Guam, or Puerto Rico) the alternator output is probably somewhere in the vicinity of 30 amps, and I doubt if there is a higher capacity alternator available unless you go aftermarket or go with a dual-battery system. Look at the air cleaner - it should have an amperage specification somewhere, like 3 amperes at 120 volts. The problem is that works out to be about a 30 amp draw on the alternator at 12 volts, and you will end up stranded somewhere. The easiest and most cost-effective solution would be to get a different air cleaner, preferably one that is 12 volts so it doesn't have to go through an inverter. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) <...> > I am not sure of the specifications, but if your Corolla is Toyota Motor > Sales U.S.A. spec (as opposed to Hawaii, Guam, or Puerto Rico) the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > to get a different air cleaner, preferably one that is 12 volts so it > doesn't have to go through an inverter. Good idea. And, the OP use a laptop, the OP can also get a power supply that accepts 12 V, too. Dell and HP sell them for their computers as do most laptop manufacturers. Jeff "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : > Look at the air cleaner - it should have an amperage specification > somewhere, like 3 amperes at 120 volts. No, it's only about 80 watts at highest setting: http://www.austinair.com/php/healthmatejr_specs.php > The problem is that works > out to be about a 30 amp draw on the alternator at 12 volts, and you > will end up stranded somewhere. It's been running in this car for a few years now actually. It just causes these weird problems when all the lights are on and the defroster is too. > The easiest and most cost-effective > solution would be to get a different air cleaner, preferably one that > is 12 volts so it doesn't have to go through an inverter. This is a really good one. I haven't seen anything come close, that I would even replace it with in the car. Signature- Mama Bear > "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > No, it's only about 80 watts at highest setting: > http://www.austinair.com/php/healthmatejr_specs.php 80 watts is about 7 amps at 12 volts, which is not too bad, except if the car is idling for long periods with the lights, rear defogger, fans, etc., running. BTW, I was probably incorrect with my guess of 30 amp output for the alternator. 60 or 70 is probably correct; and the alternator should put out at least 30 amps under load. >> The problem is that works >> out to be about a 30 amp draw on the alternator at 12 volts, and you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > causes these weird problems when all the lights are on and the defroster > is too. If you are idling for long periods, the alternator puts out less power. If you are parked with the engine idling for long periods, turn off the rear defogger and lights, and turn the blower fan to a lower setting. All that electrical stuff does put a strain on the alternator. >> The easiest and most cost-effective >> solution would be to get a different air cleaner, preferably one that >> is 12 volts so it doesn't have to go through an inverter. > > This is a really good one. I haven't seen anything come close, that I > would even replace it with in the car. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > alternator. 60 or 70 is probably correct; and the alternator should > put out at least 30 amps under load. I saw one site that said 80 amps, was it Ebay? >>> The problem is that works >>> out to be about a 30 amp draw on the alternator at 12 volts, and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > lower setting. All that electrical stuff does put a strain on the > alternator. I'm not sure if it's the alternator, the old brushes, or the feedback circuit for the EFI. Don't know that much about all that. Signature- Mama Bear > "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : <snipped> >> If you are idling for long periods, the alternator puts out less >> power. If you are parked with the engine idling for long periods, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I'm not sure if it's the alternator, the old brushes, or the feedback > circuit for the EFI. Don't know that much about all that. The alternator puts out more power at high engine RPM than at idle. If you are idling for a long time with lots of demand, the battery will eventually start to discharge. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > If you are idling for a long time with lots of demand, the battery > will eventually start to discharge. That sounds like what's happening. If I put my foot on the gas a little, the air cleaner comes back up and the lighte get brighter again. I thought of adjusting the idle up a little but a mechanic said you're not supposed to do that with a fuel injected car because there's some kind of feedback circuit. Signature- Mama Bear > "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > not supposed to do that with a fuel injected car because there's some > kind of feedback circuit. Idle speed is not adjustable, and if you increased it, fuel mileage would go down the tubes. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Idle speed is not adjustable, and if you increased it, fuel mileage > would go down the tubes. Actually I found an idle speed screw but tried adjusting it and the hex socket part crumbled and it wouldn't tighten down again. But there MUST be some way to get the idle to compensate for load on the alternator, right? Otherwise what's the point in having an 80 amp alternator if the engine stalls when you use 30? Signature- Mama Bear > "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > Otherwise what's the point in having an 80 amp alternator if the engine > stalls when you use 30? I'll share a tip that I learned from experience: do not turn or twist any screws on the engine unless you know what the screw does and you know what you're doing. On an engine, turning a screw 1 quarter turn and then returning the screw to it original position may not return the setting to its original position. Alternators are rated at a higher engine RPM than idle, usually 2000 RPM. In other words, an 80 amp alternator puts out 80 amps if it is full-fielded at 2000 RPM. One of the reasons that emergency vehicles like police cars have such huge alternators, like 180 amps, is to power stuff like emergency lights during long idling periods. If you want to run big loads like air cleaners, spot lights, map lights, computers, 2 meter radios, etc., you will need a big alternator, and to power a big alternator, you need a big engine, and if you get that big engine, the fuel economy will be nowhere near as good as you are getting now. The Sequoia is available with a 115 volt outlet to power your air purifier, 4WD to get you through the snowy ruts, and a big alternator (IIRC, 120 or 130 amps). It has built-in map lights and has in-dash navigation available. It will handle all sorts of extra gadgets while handling snowy roads (or even no roads) with ease. On the negative side, the gas mileage is roughly half of what your Corolla gets. You can get a Ford Crown Victoria with option package P71 that will handle big electrical loads for less money than the Sequoia, plus there are probably dozens of supplies of spot lights and map lights! My guess is that fuel mileage will be the same or slightly better than the Sequoia. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) >Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find >for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >AND I want to add a spotlight and a dash mounted map light, maybe even a >laptop to the car too. A woman after my own heart!!!! I thought I was bad with my laptop, gps, sirius and an inverter to power my cell phone charger! SignatureScott in Florida "Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message > I thought I was bad with my laptop, gps, sirius and an inverter to > power my cell phone charger! How do you find the time to drive when you're playing with all your toys? >"Scott in Florida" <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote in message > I >thought I was bad with my laptop, gps, sirius and an inverter to >> power my cell phone charger! > >How do you find the time to drive when you're playing with all your toys? That is the problem.... The GPS program on the puter has voice recognition, so I can talk to it and ask where the f*ck am I and it tells me....etc. I try not to use a cell phone in the car. Just charge it. Satellite radio? Just listen. SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to >>find for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I thought I was bad with my laptop, gps, sirius and an inverter to > power my cell phone charger! :) I love technology. I'm an electronics tech. Signature- Mama Bear >Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >:) I love technology. I'm an electronics tech. It is a great world we live in.... Expensive toys.....but great!!!!! SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Expensive toys.....but great!!!!! I always have more toys and guns than I need, but less than I want. :) Signature- Mama Bear >I always have more toys and guns than I need, but less than I want. :) Guns? Me too.... I just learned we can carry a loaded gun in the car here in Florida without a concealed permit. It has to be locked up, but we can be armed.... Now we can blast home invaders and car jackers (if we get enough time to unlock the gun<g>). SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>I always have more toys and guns than I need, but less than I want. :) > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I just learned we can carry a loaded gun in the car here in Florida > without a concealed permit. I'm from FL originally, and you could for many years. :) > It has to be locked up, but we can be > armed.... I believe the wording is securely enclosed, or something like that. Like in the glove compartment? Check your laws. Signature- Mama Bear Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to >>find for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I thought I was bad with my laptop, gps, sirius and an inverter to > power my cell phone charger! Did I mention the old 2 meter rig? :) I just gotta fix the mic cord, haven't used it in so many years that something separated in the cable. Signature- Mama Bear >Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >I just gotta fix the mic cord, haven't used it in so many years that >something separated in the cable. That is one thing I've never done (the ham). I have a god bud that has been a ham forever (he was on President Kennedy and Johnson's White House Communications Team). He and I used to have multiple adult beverages and I'd almost always try to get him to call Germany....LOL He and I decided to converge one of my color TV's. Only mistake I made was 'cleaning' the tuner contacts with alcohol while it was on. Small fire. No big deal...LOL Last time I visited him (he lives in Delaware) he had a whole room dedicated to ham gear and model railroad stuff. Good guy. Electronic tech thru and thru! SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > dedicated to ham gear and model railroad stuff. Good guy. Electronic > tech thru and thru! Cool. I remember building my own Heathkit ham gear and color TV years ago. Fascinating. Signature- Mama Bear >Cool. I remember building my own Heathkit ham gear and color TV years >ago. Fascinating. I built the Heath kit color TV. What a project..... I knew one of the presidents of Heath. He saw the writing on the wall of the end of 'kits'. Too bad. They were fun. SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Cool. I remember building my own Heathkit ham gear and color TV years >>ago. Fascinating. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I knew one of the presidents of Heath. He saw the writing on the wall > of the end of 'kits'. Too bad. They were fun. Wish they'd bring them back. <sigh> SignatureAre private banks printing our money and then loaning it to this country and taking all our income tax to pay the interest on it? Free video: http://tinyurl.com/snr7b IF YOU'RE NOT VOTING FOR LIBERTARIANS, YOU'RE ONLY VOTING FOR YOUR RULERS! If the government wasn't allowed to initiate force, the vote wouldn't be that important. It's only important because they can. http://www.stentorian.com/spectrum.html Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Cool. I remember building my own Heathkit ham gear and color TV years >>ago. Fascinating. > > I built the Heath kit color TV. What a project..... Took me about a week. :) Signature- Mama Bear >Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Took me about a week. :) Well I got mine along with an electronics course from DeVry. They shipped as I finished a section of the course. Took awhile.... SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Well I got mine along with an electronics course from DeVry. They > shipped as I finished a section of the course. Took awhile.... I built the 19" color TV from Heath directly. Didn't have very good color stabilization circuitry back then though. Signature- Mama Bear >Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >I built the 19" color TV from Heath directly. Didn't have very good >color stabilization circuitry back then though. Agreed. The cheapest set available now is far superior. ....but how many people can say they built a color set? SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > ....but how many people can say they built a color set? Really. :) I also built the SB-101 and later the SB-102. Signature- Mama Bear >Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >I also built the SB-101 and later the SB-102. You made me have to google! Neat.... SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Neat.... I used to use it with a 2 element 10-15-20 meter quad on a tower just above the house, and work all over the world with it. Signature- Mama Bear Scott, the 12V cell phone chargers are at WalMart for about 10 bucks. Might be easier than running the inverter. On Mar 3, 8:11 am, Scott in Florida <askifyouw...@mindspring.net> wrote: > >Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find > >for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Scott in Florida I know, but I had the inverter for my laptop. A toy is a terrible thing to waste...LOL I did buy a 12 VDC power converter for the laptop, so I'm getting closer... Now there is a three to one splitter off the cigarette lighter. <g> >Scott, the 12V cell phone chargers are at WalMart for about 10 bucks. >Might be easier than running the inverter. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> Scott in Florida > SignatureScott in Florida > Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find > for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? > > I have an 120 VAC air cleaner in the back seat, running off an inverter, Whatever for? Are you allergic to your automobile? "mack" <mackerel@dslextreme.com> wrote : >> Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard >> to find for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Whatever for? Are you allergic to your automobile? No silly, exhaust fumes. So I keep the windows and vents closed, have AC for the summer, and have an Austin Air HM200 seat belted with a bracket, in the back seat, circulating forward. It helps a lot, though isn't perfect because of leaks in the car. Signature- Mama Bear Your current alternator is 70 amp and if working properly it should be sufficient. Have you had it checked or at least the brushes changed - nearly 15 years old. Why an air cleaner in a car? With all the air leaks - unless you're in the Tikrit sand storms it can't be very effective. There are 12v ozone generators available for vehicles. > Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find > for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > AND I want to add a spotlight and a dash mounted map light, maybe even a > laptop to the car too. "Wolfgang" <NOwolfXgang_dieterxSPAM@NOXcox.netNOT> wrote : > Your current alternator is 70 amp You sure? Someone just said 30. > and if working properly it should > be sufficient. Have you had it checked or at least the brushes > changed - nearly 15 years old. No. Might do that. But I suspect that it's not the problem. The car runs fine with just the air cleaner on, in the daytime. When I add the lights at night, and maybe the rear window defroster, it starts pulling down the idle speed. > Why an air cleaner in a car? Explained that in the last post. I get sick from exhaust fumes. Sinus infections and sore throats. > With all > the air leaks - unless you're in the Tikrit sand storms it can't be > very effective. I keep the vents and windows closed while driving in city traffic. I can open them a little when no one else is in front of me, but that's usually only on the back streets. > There are 12v ozone generators available for > vehicles. Ozone is poisonous. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html It also burns the skin. They put one of those in the dojo that I used to frequent, and I started getting sore throats and burning skin when sweating and working out. They had to shut it off or lose me as a customer. Signature- Mama Bear >> be sufficient. Have you had it checked or at least the brushes >> changed - nearly 15 years old. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >at night, and maybe the rear window defroster, it starts pulling down >the idle speed. I just changed the brushes at 198,000 miles on the '92 Corolla. They were just about shot. I'd do it if I were you.... SignatureScott in Florida Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote : >>> be sufficient. Have you had it checked or at least the brushes >>> changed - nearly 15 years old. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > I'd do it if I were you.... There's an old Polish saying ( half my family was from Poland ): If it works, don't fix it. If I knew that was the problem, of course I'd have them changed. But is it? Signature- Mama Bear >There's an old Polish saying ( half my family was from Poland ): >If it works, don't fix it. > >If I knew that was the problem, of course I'd have them changed. But is >it? Well, normally I agree, but.... Just before my last trek north, I took my car over to my trusted alternator/starter re builder and asked. He said...hell you are driving on borrowed time. Sure enough the brushes were down to the nubs... Glad I did it. SignatureScott in Florida >Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find >for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? >I have an 120 VAC air cleaner in the back seat, running off an inverter, Check for belt slippage and bad electrical connections. My VW alternator put out .3V more at idle after I added a ground wire directly between its case and battery. If none of that helps and your brushes are good, consider a smaller diameter alternator pulley. A HEPA/charcoal filter won't remove exhaust fumes, at least not for long. > Are bigger ( higher capacity ) alternators very expensive and hard to find > for the 93 Corolla 1.8 liter EFI? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > AND I want to add a spotlight and a dash mounted map light, maybe even a > laptop to the car too. What the heck. A home air purifier? Even if a car had 0% air leaks and the ventilation control set on recirculate when your driving there is way to much fresh air going in and out of the cabin for that to work. That type air purifier works 24/7 for long periods of time on the same air to do its job. Even a home a/c system would not be able to do handle the load from that much air leaking inside. Dan |
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