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Home > Help Needed / General Tech Chat > Alternator temperature.

minimole23

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20th Apr, 2013 at 04:17:44pm

After fitting a front mounted radiator and a failed attempt at ducting decent airflow to the denso alternator, after a run is pretty hot to the touch, uncomfortable if you keep your hand on there for a few seconds.

Now I never felt it before to see if it got hot during use so have nothing to compare it too.

So how hot would be allowable for an alternator? I don't want to cook it, so if needed will revise the ducting, but space it tight. It will be getting a nice blast of warm air from the radiator fan right behind it so thinking the ducting might be a hinderance rather then a help.

The only current that gets drawn from it is bare minimum for an MOT, so its not like its overworked.

On 7th Oct, 2010 5haneJ said:
yeah I gave it all a good prodding

adcyork

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York

20th Apr, 2013 at 05:11:09pm

It works opposite to that line of thinking.

Alternators will get hotter when they're not being used to their full potential as the excess current being generated has to be dissipated as heat by the regulator circuitry.

It's not uncommon at all to see regulator temperatures in excess of 100 degC in most applications.

If you can touch it then I wouldn't worry about it.


Kean

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aka T2clubby

South Staffs

20th Apr, 2013 at 05:47:05pm

Remember its bolted to the block and has the rad right by it too. Its never going to be cold really.


minimole23

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Wiltshire

20th Apr, 2013 at 06:25:21pm




On 20th Apr, 2013 adcyork said:
It works opposite to that line of thinking.

Alternators will get hotter when they're not being used to their full potential as the excess current being generated has to be dissipated as heat by the regulator circuitry.



Thats my lesson for the day, interesting to know.

I'll not worry too much unless it dies!

On 7th Oct, 2010 5haneJ said:
yeah I gave it all a good prodding

BENROSS

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Resident Cylinder Head Modifier

Mitsi Evo 7, 911, Cossie. & all the chavs ...... won no problem

20th Apr, 2013 at 11:40:24pm

sweep your thoughts out of your mind, just run it, the alt will only draw the current whats needed ............ the heat will be from the block (mostley)

adcyork

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York

21st Apr, 2013 at 12:12:16am

On 20th Apr, 2013 minimole23 said:

Thats my lesson for the day, interesting to know.

I'll not worry too much unless it dies!


Turn everything on in the car that could possibly be running at the same time.

Then check the voltage across the battery with the engine running. If you see anything between about 13-14V then the whole system is in a charge condition and there's nothing to worry about. Anything less than around 13V with the engine running, and the battery is being discharged.

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