My Alternator Died!

[Bainzy]

Guess it was inevitable really. Throwing EFI (with 2 fuel pumps), heated seats, subwoofer amp, electric fan and then an idle valve at it must have pushed it over the edge. Had to be jump started 3 times on the way home from work tonight as the alternator wasn't doing anything, and now the battery is probably toast too as jump starting didn't work on the third try.

Now I know you're probably thinking I should've uprated it straight away, but it never seemed to have issues before the last few weeks coping with everything i threw at it, and I had no idea what amperage rating it actually was. The previous owner fitted it as a straight swap Lucas item, from a massey ferguson tractor supplier, but couldn't remember what rating it was and Lucas were totally useless in helping me identify what part or rating it was.

So I'm hoping this will do the job - any opinions before I order it? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-TRIUMPH-SPITFIRE-GT6-UPRATED-ALTERNATOR-65AMP-/160949293482?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item25795351aa

What about this 75A one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-CANAL-BOAT-ALTERNATOR-HIGH-OUTPUT-75-AMP-A127-TYPE-DUAL-TERMINATION-/170896355105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27ca376f21

Would've thought it was higher rating than what's in there now, as in the past 10 years of use the current one hasn't burnt out the original loom at all and it's still just using the one brown wire to the solenoid. I will inevitably have to add a helper wire for it to cope with 65A.

Just don't really want to buy the wrong thing as money is a bit tight at the moment, so this £100+ spend has not come at a good time!

[Clive]

First of all do the maths.

What current do the fuel pumps pull? The heated seats? and on average (that is important, forget the maximum on hifi stuff) the sub. Electric fans are usually about 10a, lights again 10a and heater fan, at a guess 4-6a likewise wipers.
I suspect 60A would be more than enough.

However, I doubt all the elektriky gizmos have caused the demise of the alternator. I am not sure of the current situation regarding longevity, but a few years ago I had several die very quickly, some reconditioned and in Lucas boxes.
there is a landrover 65a alternater that is a direct fit. If you look about they should be available as a denso OE version. I know what I would fit!
(I run a small denso 40a one on the toledo, but the spit runs/ran a secondhand bosch OEM, absolutely bombproof)

[mjwman]

I hate Lusas ones! (dating from my many replacements in the 70's!)
The second item you list is the one I have and I have no problems with it at all.
Appears to be very robust.
Mine was from the local motor factor. £59.

[Velocita Rosso]

We have 63 amp on all our cars, Spit GT, 2000/V8 ,all main beams and four spots for the overnight runs, and they suffice..............paid around £40.00 each

[Nick Jones]

The first ebay link looks like a Lucas A127 and the second one says it is an A127 though "uprated" - whatever that means.  This is quite likely what you had before as they were fitted to alot of tractors.  I think either will be beefy enough when working properly.

On both PI and Vitesse I use a 75A Bosch one from a Mk6 Escort (beware several different physical styles due to combinations of PAS and aircon) with the pulley pinched from a smaller Bosch unit used on baby engined Saxo/106.  Also uses ring tag screwed connections.  Bit of a faf to fit but reliable.

Should also consider uprating the wiring from alternator to battery etc too.  You are at nearly double the design current......

Nick