Has Anyone Added a Second Alternator?

[TexAlaskan]

I'm interested in installing a second alternator (like on the Ambulance Package), and would like to know about the parts I will need to change such as pulleys, belt, brackets, etc.
Also are there any mods that need to be made to the electrical system?

 

[Dieselpwrdredneck]

Have you considered putting just 1 high output alternator on instead of 2, might be easier

 

[bushpilot]

I know the factory 2-alternator set up is not w/out sophistication...
the two work together, monitoring each other...the 2nd unit is basically
a running standby/back up...only when theres enough load/draw and
the 1st one is near its limits does the 2nd alternator begin providing
"assistance" to the 1st.

 

[addicted]

What do you need that many amps for? I know there is a company out there that makes a 220 amp for the duramax...just saw it in DP mag, so I assume there is something out there for the PSD. If I remember right the stock ones are around 120 amps.

 

[bushpilot]

addicted you might be shocked (sorry couldnt resist the pun) !

Ive got almost 1500watts between 3 amps...and i know what ive got
installed is a drop in the bucket compared to most..

do the math on the sound system amps alone & youll discover im
pulling 125amp (at full volume)...and that doesnt include ANYTHING
else...personally ive never seen the lights dim (even at full volume...even
goin' down the road)...but i also run TWO capacitors totaling 2 farad

I have seen the voltage drop to under 12v (at idle) w/ the music
cranked though.

 

[94f450sd]

i am actually workin on adding a 2nd alternator to my truck.i have the mounting bracket made,gotta make the adjustment bracket and add a pully.i am gonna be running a GM alternator on it.its gonna be below my stock alternator as my intercooler tubes are in the way.ill get pictures of it one of these days

 

[bushpilot]

rich brings up an important point.

even on the 6.0L w/ the dual alternators they
have to CRUSH the InterCooler pipe to get the
2nd alternator on.

 

[96P_Stroke4x4]

addicted you might be shocked (sorry couldnt resist the pun) !

Ive got almost 1500watts between 3 amps...and i know what ive got
installed is a drop in the bucket compared to most..

do the math on the sound system amps alone & youll discover im
pulling 125amp (at full volume)...and that doesnt include ANYTHING
else...personally ive never seen the lights dim (even at full volume...even
goin' down the road)...but i also run TWO capacitors totaling 2 farad

I have seen the voltage drop to under 12v (at idle) w/ the music
cranked though.

is that 1500 watts max or rms? i'm running a 1200 watt rms amp and 3 caps totaling 5 farads and my lights dim with the bass 1/2 way up and not at full volume. maybe my alternator is in a little worse shape than yours but i agree, it would be nice to have a second alt. but then i have the problem with the intercooler pipes too. if installing a higher amp alt, would the wiring harness require upgrading too?

 

[bushpilot]

96-PS4x4 -

thats RMS...3 JL AUDIO AMPS, a 500/1, a 300/4 and a 4300 (actually only
adds up to 1100 RMS the way i have it configured)...i know the 500/1
has peaks of nearly 900w itself though...(the 500/1 is fairly new, to
me, so i havent really run it to the limit YET)

the 500/1 replaces a 400w rockford that i kept overheating...laser therm.
was showing surface temps of 140* when cranked...it was doin' thermal
shutdowns/overtemps...so i shelved it.

im awaiting some Qforms and another pair of seps for the kick panels

Im actually seeing signs of battery "leakage"...had this problem on my
old 5.0L f150...wondering if im not boiling the batteries from peak/over
charging...