So my alternator went a couple of days ago. decided 14 volts wasn't enough, and 18+ was better, so needless to say it's not just the regulator and it'll be cheaper to replace the whole thing, anyone have any suggestions? I have a light bar now, and an amplifier for my stereo, in the future I'd like to grab a winch for it, so there's alot of load on it. Does anyone know what would be a good investment, something not too expensive but that wouln't have to be replaced if I get a winch? Oh, I'll try to post pics of my new lightbar this week, good for all ye soft-toppers  

Running 18+ volts will burn up most light bulbs in half of the time.  They are nice and bright, but you'll be replacing them often.


~Nate

With all those accessories, you don't need more VOLTS, you need more AMPS.  I think you can put on a GM alternator that's good for 100 amps, instead of the factory 55 or 60 or whatever it is.

Get an Optima Deep Cycle (yellow top).  It will maintain it's 12 volts over a longer draw then a high cycle battery.

~Nate

ya 14.7 is about max on the volt side, any more your stereo would not like it too much.

I would run a stock alt and an optima yellow top. I run a system and a winch and I have no problems at all. Plus the Optima will last forever in a zuk. Mine has almost 400,000 miles on it between the 2 tracker its been in. I bought mine like 6 or 7 years ago.

Mike

I don't want to run more volts, that's my problem, the old alternator is running too many. The regulator went in the alternator causing it to put out 18+volts and therefore damaging my battery. hence me having to buy another one.   Sorry for the confusion. So can I purchase a 100amp alternator insted of the stock 55amp one without destroying electronics or wiring? I'd rather my truck not catch of fire. he he

Ah, i re-read that.

Your alternator decided that 18+ volts was what it wanted to put out...

I'd think that most stock alternators work pretty good.  Some automotive electronic places can ad more coils and get a few more amps out of it (re-winds).  I think you can get fabricate bracketry to get a GM alternator on the motor too.  (lots of amperage choices there)  but I've never done it.

Good luck
~Nate

So an Optima Yellow Top with a stock alt works well even if you have fog lights and a bitchn audio system?

If that's the case, then replacing a battery is a hell of a lot easier then trying to put in a GM alternator.

I'm running a stock alternator with an Optima Yellow top also and it runs my system, winch and extra lights just fine...

sadly this is information i could have used a few months ago. my battery died, so i replaced it with a canadian tire economy version.  

I'm running a stock alternator and an Optima yellow top too with a winch and lights but I am currrently looking at high output options at the moment as I run an auto and would just feel a bit happier knowing I had more going into the battery.

I just installed a premier power welder with a 160 amp alternator in a 92 sammy. I have one optima yellow and am going to get an isolator and run two optima yellows. You can get the premier alternator and regulator without the welder for about $400 I think.

sadly this is information i could have used a few months ago. my battery died, so i replaced it with a canadian tire economy version.  

Dude, the cause of my agonies last month were supposedly the CT battery's fault that I had in there....