Alternator upgrade

[kennythewelder]

What are you trying to gain by swapping alternators? Yes, a 140, or 145 amp alt, will put out more at say 1000 RPMs plus, but for low RPMs, you need to do an overdrive pulley. This will spin the alternator faster at idle. So the overdrive pulley, is smaller than the OE pulley. I swapped mine on my 105 amp alternator, and it made a world of difference at idle. For me, that's just where I needed more power. Before, with everything on, I was falling down around 9.5 volts at idle. Now I'm at 12.5 at idle.

 

[Blueghost]

If you are going to criticize my brackets at least make sure that I don’t have 100% positivity that only reflects 5% of sales. I have anywhere from dual alternator kits to trucks running over 10 alternators across the country without issues

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

you need to do an overdrive pulley. This will spin the alternator faster at idle. So the overdrive pulley, is smaller than the OE pulley.

Very good points. Sounds like one of the simpler solutions to low-speed charging.

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

Couldn't find any info or spot for this ive an 1998 k1500 I have the factory 140A but wondering if there's any benefit to upgrading to a 145 Ad244 alternator

OP, does yours have the additional support bracket on the back? I’ve seen those brackets on the 1996+ CS144 140A alternators in the treasure yards but don’t know if the brackets came on all CS144 140A alts.

Supposedly the additional support bracket was also available on certain 105A alternators as well, but I've never seen one.

Each seems to stabilize the back of the alternator. Images below. Maybe these were part of some heavy duty / offroad option.

The CS130 bracket is p/n 10237270

The CS144 bracket is p/n 10237271

(edit) I looked around a bit and all I found was the CS130 bracket p/n 10237270 was used on the S-series 4.3L trucks 96-2002(?).

 

[AuroraGirl]

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so you want an ad244

well, your cs144 is good yes, but if you want to replace you need to adapt the plug(posted it for ya), and if you want to maintain the belt you have, just swap the pulley if they arent already same size.

the alternator is better, yes. but you would do a lot for your current alt or for your about to be alt if you clean all the case grounding paths, add a dedicated ground for the case, run it to a good spot(not near ecm ground!) and upgrade your charge wire. your truck maybe? used a fusiblelink, if it did, make sure you put one back in.

I would also run the sense wire as well, but if you dont know anything about that then baby steps first.

what wires your cs144 use?

AD244 puts out more at idle, is better cooling system, has more reliable electronics, and has more features, and is in my opinion nicer than CS series pretty much anyday

Also, if you want dual alts, you would have a very reliable cs144 if you divorce the electronics on the back and do a remote rectifier. the Heat is what kills cs144 and if you have it divorced and the needs of the truck arent as much on it,its gonna last a while. dont throw it away is what im sayin

 

[Schurkey]

If you are going to criticize my brackets at least make sure that I don’t have 100% positivity that only reflects 5% of sales.

You're saying that five percent of your customers are positively 100% happy?

I have anywhere from dual alternator kits to trucks running over 10 alternators across the country without issues

Ten alternators is fookin' nuts. Nobody needs ten alternators. Especially if you don't have enough sense to provide proper belt wrap on the AC compressor.

They power buses using racks of interior lighting plus exterior lighting, with one big alternator.

 

[BCChevyZ71]

The main reason I'm looking to upgrade is just efficiency sake. I run dual batteries and my 140A alternator is new as of a year or so. It's all grounded properly I could upgrade my size of ground.....Its mainly for the same reason I did the nbs brake booster upgrade just because if I can make it slightly better using stock parts then I'm all for it. I've had the hugely modified truck with aftermarket parts and it was amazing it was also broken every other month. So for some reason in my head if I'm modifying with OEM parts then it should retain OEM reliability

 

[Schurkey]

1998 k1500 I have the factory 140A but wondering if there's any benefit to upgrading to a 145 Ad244 alternator

What are you trying to gain by swapping alternators?

The main reason I'm looking to upgrade is just efficiency sake.

Do you ever have low system voltage because the alternator is working properly, but too small? If not, "upgrading" accomplishes nothing.

If you do, you'd do well to add more amperage capacity; or reduce the electrical load.

 

[BCChevyZ71]

Do you ever have low system voltage because the alternator is working properly, but too small? If not, "upgrading" accomplishes nothing.

If you do, you'd do well to add more amperage capacity; or reduce the electrical load.

I'm upgrading for just because if I can put something on slightly better slightly more efficient gain better charging at low RPM and or across the board then meh makes sense to me. I don't have any underlying issues I just like upgrading things and can get this fairly local and cheap so why not......I didn't have a soft pedal issue braking but I upgraded the m/c anyways I just simply wanna know is the AD244 a better alternator and if so how hard a swap is it from my 140A is it plug and play need to be re wired like I've searched and can't find any real answers

 

[Eskimomann209]

You're saying that five percent of your customers are positively 100% happy?


Ten alternators is fookin' nuts. Nobody needs ten alternators. Especially if you don't have enough sense to provide proper belt wrap on the AC compressor.

They power buses using racks of interior lighting plus exterior lighting, with one big alternator.

He’s saying that only 5% of his total sales took the time to write a review. Indicating that it’s a fraction of his actual happy customer base.

Gotta give the man props for defending his product.