By Tom Burick on Friday, September 03, 1999 - 04:56 pm:

I have a 75 Civic 1200 and am installing a new audio system in it. the alternator output is only 35 amps. I don't think this is enough power, because my 86 CRX Si had a 35 amp alternator and it barely had enough power to supply the car. I damaged the alternator in that car twice running two small amps. What are my options for increasing alternator output? Can it be modified? Will another more powerful Honda alternator just drop right in? I am looking for an easy way to have increased alternator output without having to go through a lot of trouble or modification.

By Charles Roberts on Saturday, October 02, 1999 - 09:36 pm:

Hey Tom,
I don't know if you want to go this route but, I did some minor case mods to an AC/DELCO small case one wire altenator and have 50 or 60amps. The installation was basically just grinding the alt case so the pulley (from the civic) would line up. with a little grinding to the top civic bracket to clear the fan (also from the civic)the whole project took me about an afternoon. I originaly did this for the same reason you want to (try an 1100 watt HiFonics Zeus and Odin setup if you really want to kill electronics) and, for the short time I still had the system in the car it worked well. If you don't have them a second battery is a must and a 'stiffening capacitor' is a big help. Even if your talking only 100's of watts the extra battery will help (BE SURE YOU VENT IT OUTSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT!). think about it like this; the battery is like a small pond, your volume is like a dam floodgate and the alternator is the (very) small stream that fills the pond. If you crank the volume (open the floodgates) you will drain the pond(battery) faster than the stream (alt) can fill it. and if you drain the battery constantly the alternator has to work constantly and they really were not meant to do that. keep in mind that a lead acid battery charges better if it is warm (try keeping a second battery under the hood) and deep cycle batteries were designed to get almost fully discharged before they get charged, they are not the best choice for a stereo battery even though it seems that way. I hope that any of this is helping you

Charles R.

By Ryan Purkey on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 - 02:22 pm:

I know a small alternator shop in Springfield, OR that makes custom alternators. They've been sent work on all sorts: sound systems, antique cars, and even electromobiles. I was looking through my notes, but I couldn't find where I had written what they do exactly. Charles suggestion sounds pretty close though, except I remember them quoting higher amp output, in the 100's. I was going to do this mod myself until my stereo got stolen. Doh!

By Ryan Purkey on Friday, December 10, 1999 - 03:42 am:

Ok,
I found my notes on the alternators that PM Alternator can produce for the 1st genreation Civic. They build two. The lower model starts at $175 and puts out 120amps, while the higher energy model is $275 and puts out 160 amps. I have a model number (CS130) and I think it was AC Delco. You could call AC Delco to see if that's an alternator that they produce or you can email and I'll get the specifics for everyone on what exactly PM does.

By cvcc matt ( - 12.23.46.159) on Sunday, May 14, 2000 - 03:24 am:

I don't know the manufacturer but I got a 55 amp alternator for my 78 1.5 cvcc from a local parts store that bolted right up no mods needed at all. works just great. Good luck
Matt

By Mad Mel (161.184.40.206) on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 12:24 am:

Hey Guys
Well pro car audio is my specialty and boy I know about alternators (seen a lot of smokers!). We have had custom 200Amp (hot rated) for spl systems. Had a 180Amp (cold rated) one built in a small chrysler case put into a 91 Accord (2nd loundest car in eastern Canada 1999)with 12 12" in the back seat! (have pics if anyone would like to see the beast). That alternator was still a tight fit. That 120A one for $175.00 sounds a bit low on price (if it's new) for that power rating. It must be a cold rating. Many manufacturers rate them cold but when the rectifier gets heated to 200+ degrees under the hood the output drops significantly (especially whith the 600 to 800 Amp transients of large sound systems). The best alternators for large power production have external recitification and regulation. This keeps the electronics mounted in a cool place away from the engine so they opperate more efficiently.

Another thing that can help out a whimply alternator (more than a cap even!!) is "proper" power and ground connections, clean "UNGREASED" connections on the battery. Grease can be applied to the post after to keep out acid/water. If you use to small gaged wire it causes voltage drop reciprical current spikes and that loads the alternator quite a bit. I never use anything smaller than 4 gage if I don't have to! This can be noticed by pulsing dash lighting when you are slamming on the system.

My next project will have an IASCA system in a 78 1200 with an 85 Lude engine, so I can keep you posed what I will do. Delco alternators are usually cheapest and easyest to work with. Internal or external reg.

By Charles R. (64.170.157.248) on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 10:41 pm:

What class?

By Mad Mel (161.184.40.107) on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 11:02 pm:

Well it's up in the air right now for class. I will start the custom interior then decide what will work best as I go. I have 2 300ish watt PPI amps and a 900ish watt HCCA Orion. This stuff might put me into to high a power class to be competative. Been an installer for almost 15 years so it's a real H57 of equipment I have collected. The amp racks will be desgned so I can upgrade to what ever amps my new shop will carry, probably Pheonix Gold or U.S. Amps. But have to start somewhere. Might even just sell the car and system when I am done demoing it for this season and build another for the spring!!! Know anyone selling an RTA with both IASCA and SPL Mikes?

By Mad Mel (161.184.41.242) on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 11:16 am:

I found a couple high output alternator builders for you guys
USA
Dave's D.C. Electric (909)509 5617 davesdc@msn.com
Ohio Generator (330)454 2753 no e-mail

I cannot find any in Canada, sorry guys. I usually go to a company that specialises in rebuilding alternators and explain what I want. They can then measure everything and order in the case halfs that will work and the guts that will perform. This can get you the results you want without paying 100+ bucks more for a name and a chrome plated case...unless chrome is more improtant ; ) This is where external rectification and regulation can be inquired about. That is complicated stuff, one wire Delco units do the job 90% of the time.

Feb 2001 issue of "Car Sound" has an excellent article on alternators. It covers the issue of stiffening caps not being the answer to not enough power...carsound.com might have something as well