More durable alternator

[alamoana]

Had a pair of Prestolite aka Leece Neville 8MR110 Amps alternators, not expensive, for over 20 years without an issue. I swapped the integral for external regulators with an Ample Power regulator with load limiting for the alternators. The FLA house batteries lasted 20 years with this regulator and alternators too, on a mooring.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Mickeyrouse

I am constantly swapping out and repairing. This last time around I only got about 115 hours on the one in service before it crapped out.

What part is failing.

Diodes --> heat problem
Bearings --> Belt alignment or tension problem
Brushes/slip rings --> early failure for no reason at 115 hours
Stator --> too many amps


Usually when alternators die an early death it's the diodes.


You can reduce output using a good external regulator that senses alternator temperature. If you already have one, choose more conservative settings.


You can get external diode packs. They are expensive and something of a nuisance to install but they get the diodes out of the engine bay where they can be cooled more effectively.


If your engine compartment runs hot, figure out a way to get cooler air to the alternator. Or put some sort of duct on your alternator so the cold air goes there first (usually not feasible but sometimes works)