[cj]

Does anyone know the power output specs for a factory 2000 ES? Particularly I'm wondering how many amps the alternator can churn out and what "wiggle room" the factory battery has for add-on electronics.

I have a device that will require about 30amps and I'm curious if I need to upgrade/replace any parts to make sure my car doesn't die in the middle of rush hour on the Ship Canal Bridge.

 

[celticmyst]

i dont know about a 00 ES.
my books at work for replacement alternators for my 98 ES say that the output is 130A on the 3.2L engines.
i cant remember if they are different for the 2.7L.
what engine have you got ?
ill check this afternoon if theyre different or not.

 

[cj]

Thanks for the reply. The ES is a 3.2 liter. If it, in fact, is only 130 amps then it looks like I'll be needing to upgrade that puppy.

 

[celticmyst]

in 00 the ES' were available with a 2.7L
i test drove one.
passed up the newer 00 for the 98 ES with the 3.2L, needed the power
and you think 130A is small ??
talk to my 60A kcar alternator and the 90A the amplifiers i had in it were drawing.
only thing i ever really noticed is that the lights dimmed at unlistenable sound volumes.

if you dont mind my asking, what are you planning on installing ?

 

[Lafrad]

yea, the 90A on the first gen 3.5L is strong enough for my amps. don't even notice dimming of the lights, altho the power windows could use a boost.....

 

[cj]

I'm putting in a a pretty hardcore sound system coupled with a PC that will be drawing about 30-40 amps.

The PC will do GPS, Voice Recognition, MP3/WMA/whatever sound files, DVD, Internet access, wireless LAN, rearview video, etc. The plan is to have an 8.4" diagonal VGA LCD touchscreen mounted in the dash with an additional screen for the passenger(s) to watch DVD. The secondary screen position and size is TBD.

I won't be going as far as the Megacar or the 2366 "Galaxy Class" Camaro, but I'm going for the fully integrated look and feel of the Megacar. The prototype of the PC is currently underway. Once I have the hardware assembled, the next chore will be to develop an easy to use UI (I don't want to crash when I'm changing songs, obtaining directions, etc.), followed by a 2 to 3 month beta testing period where the unit will actually be in the car. If I like what I've done and can reproduce it for a reasonable cost, I may kick it commercial. Dunno yet.

I will be putting up a website that chronicles the development once it actually begins.


Note to self: Learn how to type.

[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: cj ]

 

[celticmyst]

lookin more like youre gonna need a 230A alternator for all that

i dont think the police package 160A would help much by the sounds of it.

best of luck with the project tho.
going commercial would be cool.
keep us in mind when ya do

 

[Bart]

I heard of having alternators rewound... There's only one place I know of that does it near me and it's at least 100 miles away so I'm guessing it's not at all too popular. That way you don't have to worry about trying to mount a higher power alternator that has different mounting holes. I'm curious though... on the 2.7L, the alternator is on the bottom... right between the engine and a piece of the frame. I can't see any way of getting that thing out if it goes bad without pulling the whole engine or at least maybe the whole front end (fascia, headlights, radiator, fans, and transmission cooler). Definitely looks like most of the cost of replacing it will be labor if you don't do it yourself.

 

[Lafrad]

is there anywhere with a view of the 2.7L magic engine? I haven't seen one, or pictures of it.

 

[Lafrad]

Does anyone know if the Second Gen 3.5 alternators mount on the first Gen 3.5 engines? is there a wiring change? I would like a bigger alternator, and the 160Amper would rock.

 

[intrepidator]

The output on the 2.7 is 120 amps, I know for a fact, but not on the 3.2. Your car needs about 40 amps to control all accessories that are factory plus recharge the battery. I am planning on putting 3 amplifiers that will be pulling a total of 160 amps, I am buying a custom built 200 amp alternator from Ohio Generator. You also can have a alternator rebuilt, but the biggest they can rebuild it to is 160 amps, because the case will only be able to handle a cerain amount of copper windings. If you will only be pulling 40 amps max you will be more than fine. I am a car audio installer and studying to be a electrical engineer, and have worked with cars and dc electricity for years and all this information is true to my personal experiences. Also if anyone needs a custom built alternator for their car just put a post up for it. A 200 amp alternator like mine will run about.................are you ready you may want to sit down..........................................................$600.

 

[celticmyst]

i got my k-car one rewound out here for 80 bucks. 60A to 100A. didnt do a bloody thing tho. shoulda bought a second battery or a cap instead. of course everyone tells me that AFTER i get the alternator done

 

[skellyo]

You should be more than fine running all the PC gear off the stock 130A alternator. Unless you plan on throwing in a couple thousand watt stereo as well, you'll be fine. I do suggest upgrading the factory ground to a 4ga as well as the charging lead from the alternator to battery with 4ga.

As for the person that posted saying they rewound theirs and still had problems...a cap or second battery WILL NOT alleviate the necessity for extra current flow. Both are only storage devices. The second battery would only be good for engine off stereo playing time and the capacitor is only good for very short musical transients which the upgraded alternator should have taken care of.

skellyo
...knows a thing or two about audio