Hi, I am looking for a dual alternator setup for my 1998 Dodge Ram B3500 w/ 5.9L, can anyone guide me to a vender that would sell a dual alternator setup w/ bracket,hardware and belt. Thanks a Bunch.

 

I am unaware of any such bolt on product.

I do have to wonder at the desire for an extra alternator.

If it is to charge additional batteries, then I would suggest just upgrading the cabling between original alternator and extra batteries. Well perhaps not upgrading the original cabling, leave that in place, just add a fat 2awg cable from alternator(+) stud to the extra batteries through whatever means of isolation you are using. Properly fused of course.

I have such a cable in my system, and with hungry batteries it will more than double the amps making it to the house batteries Especially at higher RPM.

If your isolator has a finned heat sink, it is a diode based isolator which are infamous for undercharging batteries due to the voltage drop across the diode, which insures undercharging and poor battery life.

I briefly considered replacing my useless AC compressor with another alternator, but since our vans voltage regulators are in the engine computer, I was not willing to risk possible issues with a shared ground path if another alternator were hooked independently to the extra batteries

 

Check with a camper/motor home outfitter.

 

Thanks for the info, trying to convert to italian ice truck. I have stock alternator, but want to charge a 4-6v battery pack with a 900ah total capacity. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

If you have the scratch, Mechman makes 240amp and 320 amp alternators that will fit. I doubt the internal voltage regulator in the PCM can handle that much current so it seems to me you would have to add an external voltage regulator and hook up any extra batteries & high amp draw accessories to it.

 

Thanks blackvan, will be replacing stock alternator with a 250 amp one and also installing a external voltage regulator, hopefully won't go up in SMOKE. I am just trying to keep my battery bank charged while I'm just sitting.

 

It should work fine. I've setup vehicles with two separate voltage regulators in the past and never had any problems.

Whatever brand/type HO alternator you choose it is really important to pay attention to its amperage output at idle speed. This is far more important than it max amperage output. Our stock Denso alternators are very reliable & solid units but don't produce much amp output at idle.

When I upgrade my audio system (from 3 amplifiers to 5) next year I'm probably going to be doing the exact same thing. I hope you post the results of your alternator upgrade and let us know how it works out for you.

 

4 6 volt Golf cart (gc-2) batteries will have about 460 amp hours of capacity.

Are you using L-16 size batteries for that 900 A/h?

Please do keep us apprised of the route you take, and the results.

A clamp on DC Ammeter will help determine if you are getting the amps you expect.

My van Idles at 525 rpm when hot, and at this rpm cannot make more than 32 amps, but add 200 engine rpm and it can make 62 amps.

Consider fabricating a cold air feed tube to the back of the alternator. They get extremely hot when idling and asked for their maximum output by a large hungry battery bank.

 

I did more online research re installing HO alternators on these vehicles and this may be of interest:

http://alternatorparts.com/external-...nator-kit.html

The factory voltage regulator (located within the PCM) is apparently good to about 200 amps. Anything higher than this will create voltage drop issues and eventually burn up the internal regulator. This kit is supposed to provide external regulation for HO alternators and also provides a signal to the PCM so the computer thinks everything is cool. In reality the computer no longer regulates your voltage, output voltage can be adjusted on the external voltage regulator to meet your requirements.

This kit (or something similar) would seem to be the way to go if you want to be able to get the maximum power from a 200+ amp alternator on these vehicles.

 

Thanks for the input, I'm looking at T-125 or T-145 trogan or equivalent batteries, I'm only needing 25 to 35 amps total. I will be doing some more research and will be documenting/photoing all my progress on this post. This is my first Dodge and my first venture in doing this. so lets keep our fingers crossed.... but then again, its only time and money. Its a 1998 Dodge Ram B3500 series hitop cargo van which will be converted into a Italian ice/goodies van and will be equipped with a 71" slide top freezer, 12 cf stand up refrigerator, 3 compartment bar sink, hand sink, fresh water tank, on demand tankless water heater, waste tank, 36" prep table and a 48" prep table. If anybody has any suggestions, PLEASE let me know. Thanks again.