No more charging issues

After 11 years I gave in. Found a way to mount a real alternator instead of the Denso mini. It took some searching to find one with a short enough motor plate to pulley C/L that would fit. Ended up with a GM style CS130 from Powermaster. It features 100 amp output at idle, 140 amp at speed. No more low voltage driving thru the pits. Also decided to run a Stinger high amp solenoid inline. This way the 2.0 cable from the battery could be used as the charge wire. Now it shuts off with the safety switch or ignition. At 1500 it'll hold over 18.5 volts at idle with everything switched on.
Doug

Awesome work as always. Having 18.5 volts at idle with everything on is a great feeling.

Is that a 16V system (battery)?

I have a parts store reman CS130 on my car and it has been great. With a 5" crank pulley it charges at idle with all of my electrical crap going.

Looking good but, some of us don't even need an alternator.

Just for info, I borrowed a calibrated ammeter from work and connected it inline with the Alternator o/p. We were pulling over 50A at Idle with just the fans, water pump, fuel pump, ign and data logger on. I didn't try it with the lights on as well since the the shunt for the ammeter was only rated for 50A With the engine off and just the lights the current was around 20A, this time connected to the battery feed (it didn't read anything connected to the alternator ).
My conclusion was: If I had a race car I'd still run an alternator, though I do know folk who just keep the battery topped up between rounds and don't seem to have any issues

I used to not run an alternator and only charged in between rounds with a 16v battery. Never had an Issue. Then got sick of hustling around if I made it to round robin. Put a 150amp alternator on, and was one of the best investments I ever made. Now I don’t have to charge at all in between rounds.

Just watch your ignition box at 18.5V volts - the operating range is max 18 in my experience - they get a little hot at that voltage

I still run an alternator FWIW. I too had to 'sink' the alt body into the motorplate. The number of 'rounds' I've ever gone is limited, which I'm sure Doug read it as an inside joke. It took a little attention but, mine recharges well above 1600rpm with my set-up (which is one fan). But, I'm getting pushed thru staging too(starter hit is the biggest drain). Generally speaking, for a good bracket guy, I don't see why you wouldn't engineer a good charging system.

Ya I figured Doug saw the inside joke lol.

I like seeing 14.5 volts on the volt meter with the engine running above 1200 RPM

.001 to .002 ET quicker in the 1/8 mile with the alternator belt on, versus with no alternator
Dang MSD 7 race boxes

Be interesting to see how much if any it affects the performance of the car. More amps eats up some power but I would imaging it is negligible at best. FWIW I have run both full size 130 amp alternators and 55amp minis. Ever since I went to 16V I have not had any battery issues except the one time I left the battery on for three months leaving the car at a buddies hose to race.