1 wire powermaster alternator on 87

[5ohjoe87]

I am considering getting a 140 amp powermaster one wire alternator. During bad weather and at night time the voltage guage drops big time with my 75 amp unit . Let me know if anyone has tried running this powermaster unit and let me know how it worked out. Previously I installed a 130 amp 3g on on older mustang and it was a hassle. I figure hell 1 one wire to connect thats real nice. By summer I will have an electric water pump and manual rack so heck All I need is a belt to run the alt I already deleted ac/and smog and added a be cool cooling kit however the electric fan is not connected anymore because of battery drain.

 

[HISSIN50]

is it self exciting? i might pass up an alt that is not self exciting. i cant remember, but The User might use that alt. i really cant remember (sorry TU if im wrong).

good luck.

 

[casey4093]

by any chance is did you move your battery to the rear of your car? I have the same prob at night and in bad weather when there's a heavy load on the alt. I read on hear about a site that sells the battery grounding kits and I made one up myself and it made a difference, btw-i have an 80 amp alt

 

[conartist]

5ohjoe87,

I am currently running the 140 Powermaster on my 92 Convertible.
I am really impressed with the fit/finish/quality . I have a trunk
relocated battery, and the power wire that comes with the powermaster
was even long enough to run back my solenoid, which is in the fender
(wires hidden). The instructions say that you may have to grind some
excess material off of the alt bracket, but in mine, it fit in perfectly.
I chose this alt because I run a 16" hayden e-fan, auto-temp controlled
with override and a somewhat larger stereo system. I have a ammeter
on my a-pillar pod and it always shows that the alt is charging the system.

The only thing with this alt, is that I decided to not run it in its "one-wire"
setup, they give you instructions on how to connect the existing red/green
wire to it, so that is will turn off/on w/ demand. I have had better results
running not in the one wire mode.

 

[TrickStang37]

I had a 140amp PowerMaster before but ran the one wire setup. I would just run the 3G set up, charges better at idle, its a better alt IMO. The powermaster would not turn on/activate untill the car first revs to about 2000. which isnt a problem either. but the voltage regulator ended up going bad twice on mine within two years and then ended up dying at about the 2 1/2 year mark.

 

[jrichker]

Here's websites with pictures of the 3G (94 Mustang and later 130 amp alt) installation procedure...

See http://www.geocities.com/smithmonte/Auto/3G_130A_Alternator_Upgrade.htm - all the tech data you could ever want to know
OR
http://www.mustangcentral.net/tech/alternator.html - excellent pictures of the installation

See these sites for the right way to do the wiring. Some people will tell you that you can skip the wiring upgrade, but it will catch up with you sooner or later. A fire in the wiring harness is ugly and expensive.

Under no circumstances connect the two 10 gauge black/white wires to the 3G alternator. If the fuse blows in the 4 gauge wire, the two 10 gauge wires may be overloaded to the point of catching fire and burning up the wiring harness.

Figure this:
Ignition system & computer = 12 amps
Fuel pump = 12 amps
Exterior lights = 15 amps
Fan (heater or A/C) = 15 amps (can run between 5-25 amps depending on setting)
Radio & instruments = 10 amps
Wipers = 10 amps

That's grand total of 74 amps from a 65 amp alternator. Talk about overdrawn at the bank!

See WWW.partsexpress.com for the fuse & fuse holder.
Fuse = http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=071-952

Fuseholder = http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=263-630

 

[Klunky]

I used to run PowerMaster stuff on some of my trucks. They were fine for a while, but didn't seem to last all that long. Spent cash having them fixed. Crap broke right after the warranty was out.
I put a PA Performance alt on my GT and am never going back to PowerMaster. The customer service at PA was about 10 times better than PM, IMO.

 

[5ohjoe87]

Thanks alot of my questions got answered I love the stangnet. I Am going to try the 100 amp hand assembled jegs unit. I am getting the unit for free off an older guy who had it sittin around for awile. heck I should run the powermaster, jegs, and my old 3g in a test and see which one is better. I used to small a charge wire in my other cars 3g setup and almost burnt out the electical. However Watch out for cheap china made foglamp head light swithches my dash caught fire on the freeway one night going 65 with the windows down not very fun. The company told me it was the extra amps from the alt running through my cars stock wiring .

 

[TheUser]

The company told me it was the extra amps from the alt running through my cars stock wiring .

read the post by Jrichker above...you do need better wiring w/ bigger alts.

HISSIN: Yep, I have the Powermaster. I ended up putting it on my LX instead of my GT and put my stocker on the GT. PM works fine on the LX even w/ the skimpy little 1 wire. I bought a 4 guage wire, but I haven't put it on yet although I should simply because of the hazzard; I drive the car a few times a week though, so not like it's driven full time.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks alot of my questions got answered I love the stangnet. I Am going to try the 100 amp hand assembled jegs unit. I am getting the unit for free off an older guy who had it sittin around for awile. heck I should run the powermaster, jegs, and my old 3g in a test and see which one is better. I used to small a charge wire in my other cars 3g setup and almost burnt out the electical. However Watch out for cheap china made foglamp head light swithches my dash caught fire on the freeway one night going 65 with the windows down not very fun. The company told me it was the extra amps from the alt running through my cars stock wiring .

first off, TU, thanks for the update. glad to hear it is working well for ya.

Joe, we both know that components draw what they need - you could have a generator hooked up to the battery and the lights and switchgear should be fine. have you put a relay on the fogs?

good luck.