60 amp alternator question

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I headed down to my local saturday night car show last evening and noticed something that I never noticed before. I installed the 60 amp alternator conversion from MSA and have been happy with the output I have been getting. Very happy actually. I did notice something peculiar. When I turn my lights on at idle, the car literally loses about 150 rpm. It feels like an AC compressor has turned on. Now I understand that with the headlight harness installed the lights draw directly from the battery. Is that alternator trying to charge the battery so hard that it becomes that hard to turn? I know alternators take HP to run, but never thought it would be that much.

This all could be because my battery is on its last leg as well. I have tried to charge it numerous times, and it never gets to beyond 12.1 volts. I have tried a dedicated battery charger at 5 amps and 10 amps, and I have a tried a trickle charger at 0.75 amps. THe battery will get to 12.1 volts pretty quickly, but if I leave it a day , it always drops to 11.7 volts.

Could the alternator be trying to charge a battery that will not take a charge and is working overtime to accomplish this. Well, this is my theory.

Any other takers. I am going to buy a new battery today to see what happens. By the way, I am running an 8 year old optima that has say for numerous years with the previous owner.

[d240zx2]

You're probably right, Stephen.

[oldhemi]

I concur with Frank - FWIW! I have found that Optima's dont last quite as long as some other name brands here in Houston. 8 years is a long time for a car that is not a DD!

[Walter Moore]

Well that is interesting, I can't see the last two posts to this thread. The main page lists 5 posts, but I only see 3.

What does that mean?

[d240zx2]

Yeah, I noticed that as well....

[Zs-ondabrain]

I wrote up a thread, comment on any other issues you're seeing with the site.

And on subject, I won't use anything but Interstate. Tried the rest and my Interstate has outlasted everything. My last 60 month lasted for 9 years before I saw any issues, and yall know about me and aftermarket accesories and amps for my stereo's....

Dave

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Well I just installed an Interstate MT-24 battery. Fits the OEM battery holder wonderfully. I am going to see how it responds to the car. It maintains right at 13 volts just sitting there. More power to my accessories and coil must be good thing. My alternator will not have to work so hard at night I am hoping. My old battery would not get above 12.1 volts ever.

I am going to get some new fancy battery cables and then hook it all back up today.

[marino]

Sounds like you have a bad battery, less than 12.7 vots is not 100% charged

I headed down to my local saturday night car show last evening and noticed something that I never noticed before. I installed the 60 amp alternator conversion from MSA and have been happy with the output I have been getting. Very happy actually. I did notice something peculiar. When I turn my lights on at idle, the car literally loses about 150 rpm. It feels like an AC compressor has turned on. Now I understand that with the headlight harness installed the lights draw directly from the battery. Is that alternator trying to charge the battery so hard that it becomes that hard to turn? I know alternators take HP to run, but never thought it would be that much.

This all could be because my battery is on its last leg as well. I have tried to charge it numerous times, and it never gets to beyond 12.1 volts. I have tried a dedicated battery charger at 5 amps and 10 amps, and I have a tried a trickle charger at 0.75 amps. THe battery will get to 12.1 volts pretty quickly, but if I leave it a day , it always drops to 11.7 volts.

Could the alternator be trying to charge a battery that will not take a charge and is working overtime to accomplish this. Well, this is my theory.

Any other takers. I am going to buy a new battery today to see what happens. By the way, I am running an 8 year old optima that has say for numerous years with the previous owner.