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Old 06-26-2021, 07:53 PM   #1
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Alternator amps

Attached are three pics of the only information I can find on my alternator.

2000 T444E RE

It clearly says 70 amp DC, but that must mean 170??

Anyone?
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IMG_20210625_202732202.jpg   IMG_20210625_204135436.jpg   IMG_20210625_204316750.jpg  

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Old 06-26-2021, 10:30 PM   #2
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Wierd.. 170 seems pretty common on the 444E,70 would be dinky even if a southern bus with near zero heater options installed
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Old 06-27-2021, 07:21 AM   #3
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you should check your build sheet and never trust a part that could have been replaced by a moron
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Old 06-27-2021, 01:02 PM   #4
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Unfortunately, the build list I have doesn't include that information, hence my checking here.
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Old 06-27-2021, 04:58 PM   #5
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dont try to guess as if it says 70 it means 70. it might have been 70 as 100 is common on some but i have seen 150 and 200 amp alternators. alternators are interchangeable so there are only a few different mounts. figure out what your electrical load is before replacing
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Old 06-28-2021, 06:38 AM   #6
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I may have to check again, but off the top of my head, I believe mine is a 380 amp. Probably because of the wheelchair lift.
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Old 06-28-2021, 09:08 AM   #7
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That 70adc looks to be something a person stamped on it. I wouldn't necessarily trust it for anything. Do you have a picture of the entire thing? That will give us an idea on the model alternator we're dealing with and we can give you an amp range from that.

That regulator was used on a lot of different units, so it won't help much to narrow anything down. If you can't find an oem or rebuilders tag, have a shop load test it and that should give you an idea for capacity.

Like others have said, I'd be surprised if you had a 70 amp unit. That would have been marginal on cars 50 years ago, so it'd be way underpowered for a school bus from 20.
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Old 07-01-2021, 08:11 PM   #8
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I still cannot find what the actual amperage of my alternator is, yet, assuming it's 70a, I tested the amp draw.

I started the engine, turned on the lights (low beams...forgot to switch to high beam...damn, and to turn on hazards), wipers on high, both front heater fans on high, booster pump, some internal dome lights (not all are hooked up, marker lights either) and I was pulling 49amp DC.

Since the mid and rear heaters are not installed, no 8 way lights, it seems a 70amp alternator is enough for the converted bus.

This leaves me ~20amps for house battery charging via a solenoid isolator (choosing that over a diode to allow control over electricity flow).

I'll keep an eye on it, and if I need to upgrade the alternator, I will.
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Old 07-01-2021, 09:29 PM   #9
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My 2013 Chevy half-ton pickup came with a 140 amp alternator. Surely a bus was better amped than that???
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Old 07-01-2021, 11:22 PM   #10
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200 amp

I changed to a big bosch alternator meant for bus applications rated for 200 amp output.... just so I can charge house batteries and run those big blower fans for heaters and air conditioners.

I hope it works like I think it will

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Old 07-02-2021, 02:13 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by magnakansas View Post
I changed to a big bosch alternator meant for bus applications rated for 200 amp output.... just so I can charge house batteries and run those big blower fans for heaters and air conditioners.

I hope it works like I think it will

william
I use a Bosch SB200 in my dev bus and it works super
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Old 07-02-2021, 06:49 AM   #12
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[QUOTE

Like others have said, I'd be surprised if you had a 70 amp unit. That would have been marginal on cars 50 years ago, so it'd be way underpowered for a school bus from 20.[/QUOTE]

i have issues with this quote.
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Old 07-02-2021, 06:54 AM   #13
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sounds like you got a good idea of your draw and considering you do not want to shoot 100 or so amps into deep cell batteries i would stay with the 70 until it proves inadequate. 35 and 40 amp was the norm 50 years ago on cars. be real careful of what you read here
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Old 07-02-2021, 07:53 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by mmoore6856 View Post
i have issues with this quote.
Both the 71 torino, and 73 mustang I've owned had a 70(or was it 65) amp alternator. I don't recall what the 67 mustang had on it. Maybe your lower optioned cars got 35, but I know what I had was 70, or close to it.
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Old 07-08-2021, 02:47 AM   #15
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My 1996 BMW R1100 -- 1100cc/67ci motorcycle -- has a 70-amp (840-Watts) alternator.
With heated grips and seat, with outlets for heated clothing, with a power-windshield, with honking lights going every-witch-way, that is barely enough.
It works, but just barely.
.
My 1997 Ford CF8000 ExpeditionVehicle with Cummins 8.3 has a 250-amp big-house alternator.
It feeds our battery bank nicely.
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Old 07-08-2021, 03:51 PM   #16
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Watts divided by volts equal amps. 840 watts is not 70amps at 12 volts its less than 8
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Old 07-08-2021, 04:14 PM   #17
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840 watts most certainly is 70 amps at 12 volts
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Old 07-08-2021, 07:29 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmoore6856 View Post
Watts divided by volts equal amps. 840 watts is not 70amps at 12 volts its less than 8
.
Oops!
Is my face 'red' or what!
.
In my defense, I was translating from hectares per kilo-hour, and somehow got cross-threaded metrical calorically.
Because that is how I roll.
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Old 07-08-2021, 07:38 PM   #19
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Now for caddiack to own up to his lack of electrical expertise. This is why people get in trouble
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Old 07-08-2021, 07:39 PM   #20
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This is also why the internet must die
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