1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Alternator

Old Jan 22, 2010 | 09:39 PM
  #11  
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A higher amperage alternator will not damage anything in your car. OHMs Law and all that jazz.
The equipment that the alternator powers draws the amps..so if you installed a 200 amp alternator it won't make the defroster or the lights or the blower fan draw more amps...than it would draw from a 150 amp alternator.

Now if your voltage rating dops..those same items will draw more amps.

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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 09:51 PM
  #12  
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I get that I now V=IR but I don't understand how something can put out amps and not voltage. So why would I want a higher amp alt.
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 10:03 PM
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While everything in the car is 12 volt, some electronics pull more amps than others, and you need to be able to supply the car with enough amps to power everything. This is the best analogy I can come up with. Think of it like a giant water wheel. The water wheel needs a certain amount of water pressure to make it move (voltage), but it also needs the reservoir of water to feed it (amperage). So your voltage is the amount of pressure the water is exerting on the wheel, and the amperage is the reservoir. If you add an aftermarket stereo, or anything else that uses more power, its like making the wheel wider, it still needs the same pressure to move, but that pressure needs to be spread over a larger area requiring more water. So, your using more water from that reservoir meaning it will drain faster, so you need to be able to fill it faster. Or in the case of your car, you need an alternator that provides more amps. Hopefully that makes sense.
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Old Jan 22, 2010 | 11:35 PM
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works for me bigger alt it is
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Old Jan 23, 2010 | 10:42 AM
  #15  
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That was probably the best description I have ever read Tom. Kudo'* to you!
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 10:22 PM
  #16  
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www.AlternatorParts.com has the best price for high output alternators
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