Does your car’s battery die a lot or often show a ‘low battery’ indicator? If that’s the case, it might be due to your alternator.
Most of us would place the blame on the battery itself and would seek to change it. However, the real culprit here is a low-power alternator that doesn’t have the juice to power your car.
It’s actually the alternator that’s responsible for providing energy to all the electrical components fitted in your car. When it’s working fine, your vehicle runs smoothly. When it’s not, you will face a lot of issues.
Fortunately, you can opt for a high output alternator to fix these issues. Not only will it provide the energy required to run your vehicle, but it will also boost battery life.
Here are some factors you should consider before choosing a high output alternator for your car:
Fit and Modification Requirements
The first thing to look out for while choosing a high-power alternator is its fit and modification requirements. This means, figure out whether the alternator can replace your existing one directly or will it need modifications for the replacement to take place.
If it’s a direct fit (doesn’t require any modification), you can go forward with the piece. However, if it’s not a direct fit, you must first check out the extra expenses needed to mount it in your vehicle.
Only after considering the extra cost should you move forward with the purchase.
Energy Output
Another thing to look out for is the energy output of the alternator. To choose the best piece for your car, you need to figure out how much energy your vehicle requires.
The easiest way to do that is by adding up the total power requirements of your vehicle’s electrical system using an ammeter. Just figure out the amount of amperage required to charge the battery and then add in a 20% to 50% buffer.
This will bring you the total amount of amperage that the new alternator must have. Doing this will ensure that you buy an alternator suited to your vehicle’s energy requirements.
International Standards
Another important thing to remember before purchasing a high output alternator is that it must conform to the safety standards set by international organizations.
It’s important because high output units are capable of putting out a lot of current, which can cause a safety risk if these weren’t constructed and tested keeping international safety standards in mind.
Therefore make sure that the unit you’re planning to buy passes the standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and SAE International.