Source of Externally Regulated Alternator

[tpbrady]

Does anyone have a source of externally regulated alternators or a shop which can modify an alternator, preferably in Washington or Oregon?
I have pretty much struck out near me in Idaho. Shops will rebuild alternators but none have ever modified one for external regulation.

Tom

 

[twistedtree]

You could try Ramone Electric. I'm not sure exactly what town they are in, but it's down near Tacoma.

 

[O C Diver]

It depends on whether you're trying to replace an existing alternator on an engine or adding a second alternator.

If replacing an existing alternator, you need to know the specific manufacturer and model before finding an alternative.

For a second alternator, I had great luck and longevity with Leece Neville alternators of the large frame design. There is an aftermarket manufacturer that made a replacement cover for the regulator. The regulator had the brush contacts below it. So the cover gave you the positive and negative brush contacts to hook up to the external regulator.

Ted

 

[bshanafelt]

2nd for Romaine electric

I’ve used the one in Kent several times for alternator rebuilds and set up

Prices are very fair, and they know their stuff

If you can fit a large frame alternator, as mentioned previously, you can find them new on eBay for a very good price, then have Romaine convert them to external regulation

 

[guy with a boat]

Unfortunately there aren’t many legit shops any more that do this, so you may have to ship if you don’t find a local source.

Wayne Electric in Long Beach, CA will sell you whatever alernator you want, convert it to use an external regulator, and ship it to you. I used them to convert an existing unit and they are very good.

 

[JackConnick]

3rd for Romaine electric but in Seattle. Jim is a super nice guy and can fix about anything, or sell you another at a decent price and help you if you have problems.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Try Whatcom Electric

Whatcom Electric & Battery
2021 Toledo St. Bellingham, WA 98229
8:00am-5:30pm Monday - Friday
9:00am-3:00pm Saturday
(360)734-7723

 

[DDW]

I had Whatcom convert mine, very happy with the service.

 

[luna]

Provided that the alternator that you want to convert to external regulation is not an exotic computer controlled alternator, it is not hard to alter it to accept an external regulator yourself.
In most instances all you need to do is bring out of the alternator it's Field Coil Input wire that you removed from the existing internal regulator's Output Terminal and connect it to the new regulator's Field Output Terminal using the appropriate wire. The Negative wire from the Field and the internal regulator itself can in many instances stay in place.

Most if not all of the other wires to the External Regulator that provide it with B+, B-, turn on/off, Voltage Sense and the other Temperature Sensors do not enter the alternator.

If an alternator repair shop can't bring the field coil's circuit outside of the alternator and leave it there for you to connect to, I would have to question the competency of the shop.

 

[O C Diver]

If you can fit a large frame alternator, as mentioned previously, you can find them new on eBay for a very good price, then have Romaine convert them to external regulation

Be careful buying off eBay. Buddy of mine bought a Chinese knock off of an exact copy of my 220 amp Leece Neville alternator. The armature was rubbing on the windings. Seller disappeared and eBay was of no use.

Ted

 

[GoneFarrell]

Auto Battery and Electric · Portland, Oregon

maps.app.goo.gl

Auto Battery & Electric
In Portland on Hawthorne

 

[twistedtree]

2nd for Romaine electric

Romaine, not Ramone, thanks for correcting that.

 

[tpbrady]

Romaine was the ticket. They gave me a very reasonable quote for an externally regulated 28SI alternator.

Thanks for the referral.

Tom

 

[NoRain]

28SI is excellent value. I got a pair of the 200A rated ones to replace the stock 22SI units that came on my Cummins 450s. Much better design and far superior cooling.

 

[luna]

There is no doubt that the 28SI is a great alternator, but it still has brushes. If you can afford it in so far as space, drive system and $ is concerned, the 40 SI at whatever rating, driven at 200 Amps has proven to be bullet proof in my ER connected to a Cat 3408.

 

[NoRain]

Oh man, that is a beast! Appears it won’t fit on the Cummins 450C without some serious reconfiguring unfortunately. That’s how to fill the lithiums.

 

[twistedtree]

There is no doubt that the 28SI is a great alternator, but it still has brushes. If you can afford it in so far as space, drive system and $ is concerned, the 40 SI at whatever rating, driven at 200 Amps has proven to be bullet proof in my ER connected to a Cat 3408.

I take it the 40Si is brushless? I agree that's the way to go if space permits.

 

[NoRain]

Yes it is. About twice the price as a 28si though.