alternator size? which is the best for me?

[EliteConcept]

ok fellas,
my alternator on my truck now is putting out a whole 65 amps at the most....which i think is quite low if i'm not mistaken. however my birthday is coming up soon and my parents are going to buy me a new one...... I am going to be running a very moderate system of 700-900 watts...and have some neon lights, which don't comsume much amps... nothing much eles though..

what size alternator should i be looking to get?
I don't want to run a lighting cap. I need an alternator so i want to get one thats going to put the power out that i need. any suggestions??

thanks,
ryan

 

[leenjen]

you might as well get a 200 amp alternator. at the very least you should get 130 amp, but i think the 200A is worth it.

 

[MSTNGGUY88]

will the stock guage wiring for the altenator handle the 200 amp one?

 

[leenjen]

yes. the alternator is capable of putting out 200 amps of current. the vehicle's electricla system will never draw anything close to that. when you wire your stereo system, you install whatever guage wires you need.

 

[MSTNGGUY88]

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up for me. On my stang it had a 65 amp and I put a 120 and I had to run 2 larger wires off the altenator. But as long as I don't have to do that for the X then i'm definetely putting a 200 on. nThanks for the help.

 

[mahieber]

I ordered a 200 amp from Mr. Alternator. With my Warn 9000, and the lights/dual batteries/new stereo system I am putting in, I wanted to play it safe. The difference between the stock 95, the HD 130 and the 200 was in the noise level in the grand scheme of things. $225 + 10 shipping from Mr. Alternator, and Tom was the friendliest guy I have spoken to on the phone in a long time.

 

[jasonf83]

I just put a mean green 240 amp on my explorer. It works great but an extra battery always helps. JCWhitney has the mean green alternator but it is not on the web page I called them about it and they got it for me.

 

[abombss]

Even though this thread has been dead for awhile, I am curious, has anyone else used a mean green alternator? I heard the stock alternator had a voltage regulator built in, how does this effect swapping it out?

 

[Magicfan25]

I wont swear to it, but I'm pretty sure any alternator you buy for an explorer will have the voltage regulator built in.