external voltage regulator

[hondakid1996]

Hey everyone. As for as I know our alts have an internal voltage regulator and it works just fine for normal circumstances. However I watched a couple Youtube videos where people used external voltage regulators to up their factory voltage for their subs and amp. So anyway, is it possible to wire up an external voltage regulator to our factory alt? Im just trying to get as much out of my factory alt so I can avoid buying a high output one. Thanks!

[MortsAccord]

Its probably not a good idea.

It really depends on how you set it up. You don't want any of the stock components being overvolted.

What works better than extra voltage is adequate flow and stable voltage. Solder connections, upgauge wires, clean and solder all grounds. Those simple and cheap mods will help more than you realize. Even more so on a car that is 20+ years old.

[EFSOHC]

This to me does not sound safe, but i dnt mess with Electronics GL if you do it let us know how it goes

[SPLCB7]

Buy a high output alt or add a battery. Its cheaper then having to upgrade two 16/18 volt batts alt and re wireing your whole car two handle higher voltage. And if all that's not done you will burn you're car two the ground. Good luck!

[hondakid1996]

Okay I should have given some insight on my system before. I have my big 3, 3 batts and all 0 gauge wire. All my connections are crimped and soldered. Every ground is sanded. Also, I don't plan on adding much voltage. I charge at 14.5 now and im only trying to bump it up to 15. I do see where you guys are coming from and this is just a bandaid until I get my ho alt.

[SPLCB7]

Okay I should have given some insight on my system before. I have my big 3, 3 batts and all 0 gauge wire. All my connections are crimped and soldered. Every ground is sanded. Also, I don't plan on adding much voltage. I charge at 14.5 now and im only trying to bump it up to 15. I do see where you guys are coming from and this is just a bandaid until I get my ho alt.

Like I said it'll cost you more then its worth.... just save up and get the alt or buy a marine batt and throw it in there temp till you can upgrade.....

[hondakid1996]

Yeah I guess you're right. I do have a marine deep cycle and 2 shuriken batts though.

[SPLCB7]

Yeah I guess you're right. I do have a marine deep cycle and 2 shuriken batts though.

What the heck are you running that draws that much power? Im running a high output alt and 3 batts on 10k rms..... seems like you should be OK with what you have are you clipping your subs so there drawing more power or something?

[hondakid1996]

I run a hifonics brz1200.1 at. 5 daily and its a power hungry amp. It clamped just over a k at 12.1 volts with slight audible distortion. I blame it on the subs though because they are damn dear bottoming out. Anyway I should have said the shurikens are only the skbt20's so they aren't THAT helpful lol.

[blackoutt]

Just get bigger batteries to help stabilize your voltage and look into excessive amperage for a alternator and they can include a external regulator to bump up your voltage..and keep that distortion down by tuning your amp with a dmm I'll find the formula in a min.

[hondakid1996]

It's funny you mention excessive amperage. I just got in contact with the guy today about an alt. 345 free shipping for a 180 amp direct bolt in.

[blackoutt]

Pretty good people that work there I was going to go with another alt until I seen this video...real world testing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w4bcTx8Xxg

[hondakid1996]

Yeah that's good proof right there.

[hondakid1996]

So i was thinking, what if i put a simple potentiometer on the line that monitors the voltage and goes to the ecu. Then id add slight resistance to fool the ecu into thinking theres less voltage than there really is which in turn would cause it to output more voltage. Does that sound feasible?

EDIT: After more reading it seems there is a wire that goes strait to 12 volts and that wire is what then goes to the voltage regulator and tells the alternator what voltage to put out. It seems simple enough to find that wire and put the potentiometer in that circut. Then just add some resistance and it should up the voltage out put.

[hondakid1996]

Okay everyone, it doesnt work. The alt has 4 wires. One for the dummy light, one for ignition positive, and 2 that send and receive voltages. I tried varying resistances on both wires and this is what i found: Red/white wire, nothing changes even when completely cut. This wire goes strait to the ecu. Green/white wire, i put in resistance up to 10k with no change. However if completely cut the voltage begins to drop. Im guessing this is because the alternator senses no load so it basically turns off. This wire goes to the ELD btw. I did however find this article http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthre...page/0/fpart/2 which is something i will be doing in the near future. So for anyone who carried interest in this thread, those are my results!