new alternator = headlights improvment ?

[kobes]

Hey Guys, probly a bit of a newb question.

 

However my alternator just died in my 260z, so sourced a new one from ashdown for just over $100 and it fitted perfect.

 

Before hand the alternator was only temp working and providing little and spasmotic charge ( had already changed the bushes so knew it was not that) . And as the car was kinda new, and being my first 260zed, i just thought the headlights where kinda ordinary.

 

However with the new alternator, it is like the headlights are on super steriods and i would say almost on par with my AU ford. Which is pretty amazing.

 

 

However what has me bugged, is why are the headlights better with a new alternator, as my basic believe was the lights run off the battery, so until the battery starts to go flat the lights should be as bright as if the alternator was charging it?

 

Just asking incase in highlights a problem i might not be aware of

 

Kobes

 

[Six_Shooter]

Vehicles run off the alternator, NOT the battery.

 

The battery is only really there for starting purposes, it has the by-product of filtering out AC ripple from the alternator, but that is beyond the scope of this thread.

 

A properly functioning alternator will charge at a voltage between 13.6 and 14.4V. Ideally 14.4v, but most alternators when they get warm go down to high 13 volts to low 14 volts. Remember battery voltage is 12.6 volts (6 cells at 2.1V each = 12.6V), and to have the alternator effectively run the car and recharge the battery after start, the voltage needs to be at least one ull volt higher than the battery voltage.

So with the newer, properly functioning alternator, the vehicle now has proper voltage and the lights can function properly as well. I would check to make sure you're not over charging though, because that can be equally as bad as undercharging. If the charge voltage is over 14.4, this needs to be addressed as well.

[Gyra]

I agree - the alternator should be putting out over 14 volts to be effective.

You might want to check all your earthing points while you're there too. I had a weird ignition problem caused by an intermittent ground