Saab alternator vs. high current stereos. - Saab 9000 Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
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Saab alternator vs. high current stereos.
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Posted by Aaron Gilbert [Email] (more from Aaron Gilbert) on Tue, 5 Feb 2002 19:43:04 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Alternator (Again), Bill Cannastra, Mon, 4 Feb 2002 13:21:47
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Bill, sorry I haven't got back to you via email yet. As I probably {didn't} mention yet, my car has the 80A alternator. So far, I haven't had any problems with it, except replacing the voltage regulator/brush pack once, at about 170k miles. I'm now at 270k, as far as I know, still on the original alternator. High current stereo has been well used since about 170k, so 100k miles. Though, I don't think mine's as current hungry as yours, I imagine we both probably listen at similar volumes, in other words, nowhere near fully cranked, but not super quiet either.

If my alternator ever really dies, by all means I will get the 115A version, but 80A so far seems adequate. That said, I do have to watch it during hot summer days, idling in traffic. If I have the lights on, and the engine cooling fan is on, the voltage can drop below 13V, down to 12.7V at times. Sometimes, even this low without the headlights on. And, that's with the stereo off and the interior fan on the lowest setting. It's rumored that the 115A alternator doesn't have such a bad negative temperature coefficient with regards to voltage output.

Since getting a needle voltmeter on the dash, which is connected to the same power source as my stereo, I have noticed that the voltage actually can jump around on the bass hits from the stereo. That was pretty cool to see, it never registered on the EDU. It can drop down as much as oh, 0.3V or so when really cranking. This somewhat brings up the large stiffening capacitor argument again, especially since I can see the headlights and interior lights dim if the stereo is up loud enough..

But the bottom line is, if you listen at a reasonable volume, I still feel the 80A will do ok, for at least 100k miles. Enough qualifiers in there? :)


Aaron Gilbert
1987 9000T 270k miles


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