[DeTomaso] Alternator Options

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/28/10 11 48 35, charlesmccall at gmail.com writes:


> OK, so for the record and in case anyone isn’t familiar with your car way 
> back then, the root of the problem was not caused by your a stock 
> alternator. Your problem was that your battery had about 17 seconds of autonomy, 
> and as a result your car was running off your alternator as opposed to off 
> your battery under low charge situations. Installing a new battery would most 
> likely have permitted your car to continue to run at stoplights and charge 
> while driving, more or less as designed. Right?
> 

True.   But having a decent alternator would mean that the battery would 
only have to 'work' when starting the car.

FWIW, today I spent all day driving my Pantera.   At idle, with the 
headlights and interior fan on, the ammeter showed a slight charge.   The ammeter 
didn't move when the rpm came up, as it was adjusting to just support the 
car's electrical demand.   No discharging at idle, then charging to try to 
replenish the battery once the rpm raised up.   Just the way it should be. :>)

Also, FWIW Ford themselves acknowledged the inadequacy of the alternator, 
and at some point fairly early during production, a new alternator was 
introduced to handle the higher-than-anticipated electrical load.   They only went 
from 55 to 61 amps though, still nowhere near enough, if heavier loads are 
placed on the system (bigger fans etc.)

Mike