Two Alternators On One Tractor?

[npalen]

Today I happened to come across the original alternator that I had replaced on my Kubota B9200 a while back. Come to find out it was a broken wire and not the alternator at fault.

Anyways (is that even a word?) the question occurred to me whether two alternators could be mounted in "parallel" with a longer fan belt. I know, seems kind of silly, but looks like the AC voltage going to the regulator would be the same but I suppose the question is whether the regulator could handle the "double" amperage.

I suppose, if one was really wanting more output for a bunch more LED lighting or whatever, a compact but high output alternator could be had. There wouldn't be room for a full size due to the engine side shields on this particular tractor.

Is this wild idea even worthy of discussion?

 

[shui5612]

Double alternators can be mounted no problem...

It will suck abit more engine horsepower but assuming you run a separate electrical system then you wouldn't get 2x amperage.. you would have 2 systems that each have let's say 30A but not one system with 60...

Having one system trying to handle double amperage means you would have to find other places that won't be able to handle the load.. fusebox.. cables.. etc..

But if you leave the oem system on oem and use the second alternator for auxiliaries such as light bars etc there's no reason why it won't work.

Personally I think 2 smaller alternators is better than one massive one.. most full size diesel trucks Have 2.. probably due to them heating up less, needing smaller gauge cables, being jelly bean parts off other cars versus having to order, maintain another part... etc..

Hope this helps.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Friends of mine who do upfits for commercial service vehicle usually put in larger alternators when required. Not so much a second. I'm guessing, usually there isn't room.

I had a Diesel ARGO prototype with a small 2cyl Rugarini Air Cooled Diesel. The magneto wasn't enough to run several cooling fans, so I put in a small GM alternator. That thing would not run the alternator at idle so I had to raise the idle and then the snowmobile clutch started to grab. I never got this solved and just sold it.

A small Diesel does not have a lot of power at idle.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Led lighting requires less power, so I would be keeping that one for a spare.

 

[npalen]

Double alternators can be mounted no problem...

It will suck abit more engine horsepower but assuming you run a separate electrical system then you wouldn't get 2x amperage.. you would have 2 systems that each have let's say 30A but not one system with 60...

Having one system trying to handle double amperage means you would have to find other places that won't be able to handle the load.. fusebox.. cables.. etc..

But if you leave the oem system on oem and use the second alternator for auxiliaries such as light bars etc there's no reason why it won't work.

Personally I think 2 smaller alternators is better than one massive one.. most full size diesel trucks Have 2.. probably due to them heating up less, needing smaller gauge cables, being jelly bean parts off other cars versus having to order, maintain another part... etc..

Hope this helps.

So one battery or a second battery on an isolated circuit?

 

[shui5612]

You can use one battery but the "best" is 2 batteries.. that way you have a backup system too.. but all of this is getting too big of a setup for a small-medium tractor in my opinion..

 

[Threepoint]

Here's a thought. If you have room to mount the second alternator, a regulator, and in inexpensive inverter, you could have onboard 120v AC power for small tools and appliances. Don't know if you'd need a small dedicated 12v battery between the regulator and the inverter to stabilize the output.

 

[dieselscout80]

GM trucks had a option for dual alternators.

 

[npalen]

Here's a thought. If you have room to mount the second alternator, a regulator, and in inexpensive inverter, you could have onboard 120v AC power for small tools and appliances. Don't know if you'd need a small dedicated 12v battery between the regulator and the inverter to stabilize the output.

Now that's interesting!

 

[4570Man]

It wouldn't take much of an alternator to run pretty substantial LED lighting. Unless you have a specialized use in mind I wouldn't bother.