Alternator Problem! AGAIN!!!!!

[MysteryMachine]

i kinda don't get the "removing" making it worse thing but i guess thats what happens.

Anyway good luck Rc with whatever you put in next

 

[99FiveOh]

An aluminum housing on an alternator is like a heatsink. The heat is disipated from the stator inside into the housing. The amount of aluminum that is cast into the housing has a direct effect on how much heat it can disipate. If you go removing the material via grinding/sanding in preperation for polishing, you reduce the surface area of the housing, thereby reducing the heat transfer from the housing to air. (there's less area of aluminum for the air to touch)

What I said was that a polished housing would have little or no affect on this because there's not that much material lost when you sand the alt in preperation for polishing.

Now if you chrome plate the alternator housing, you just cut off all the aluminum's exposure to air, so now it cannot dissipate the heat like it should. So, it retains more heat causing the internals to overheat and fail. Remember, aluminum is an excellent heat conductor and it dissipates the heat just as well. Chrome plating uses nickel, which by nature will obsorb heat and not dissipate it as fast or efficiently as aluminum.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I guess, that's really the only thing to try for now(using stock alt)

Thing is I really dont use the car that much. When it fried on Sat, that was the first time I took the car out in about 3 weeks, and I only drove it about 3 miles when it happened.

Thanks for the input.

RC

 

[MysteryMachine]

An aluminum housing on an alternator is like a heatsink. The heat is disipated from the stator inside into the housing. The amount of aluminum that is cast into the housing has a direct effect on how much heat it can disipate. If you go removing the material via grinding/sanding in preperation for polishing, you reduce the surface area of the housing, thereby reducing the heat transfer from the housing to air. (there's less area of aluminum for the air to touch)

What I said was that a polished housing would have little or no affect on this because there's not that much material lost when you sand the alt in preperation for polishing.

Now if you chrome plate the alternator housing, you just cut off all the aluminum's exposure to air, so now it cannot dissipate the heat like it should. So, it retains more heat causing the internals to overheat and fail. Remember, aluminum is an excellent heat conductor and it dissipates the heat just as well. Chrome plating uses nickel, which by nature will obsorb heat and not dissipate it as fast or efficiently as aluminum.

I get what your saying my thinking on it though which seems to make more sense in most cases is that the less meteral the easier it would be to disperse heat because its less materal it has to go through. I know your right but It makes me wonder why its like that ya know

 

[99FiveOh]

Just take a look at processors in computers. The faster they get, the hotter they get. The hotter they get, the bigger the heat sinks get. Same applies to what we have here.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I talked to the mechanic today, and he thinks that if anything electrical were causing the problem, the fuse would blow first.

RC

 

[94GTLaserRC]

What do you think of this one:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8070476565&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

The guy emaile me and said to use "di-electric" gel on the connections.

What the h3ll is that?

Thanks
RC

 

[94GTLaserRC]

FINALLY got it taken care of...Turns out that my mechanic's son had a 96 v6 junker lying around...(had previous post about this) Believe it or not...the alternator was still in it and good. I just changed out the casing with the chrome one and installed it...Since I didnt buy this one, I thought I would take a chance with the casing.

I just took it around the block a couple times, but today Ill take it to work..just a couple of miles.

RC

 

[donkey_punch]

good luck RC, this thread makes me worry cause i have a chrome powermaster alt.

i hope i can find a stock alt case and just switch the case.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

good luck RC, this thread makes me worry cause i have a chrome powermaster alt.

i hope i can find a stock alt case and just switch the case.

Did you get your from Powermaster?
I have an extra case now...I just may paint it and use it the next time.
RC

 

[donkey_punch]

Did you get your from Powermaster?
I have an extra case now...I just may paint it and use it the next time.
RC

well it's a Powermaster that i bought through a local speed shop.

if you would like to get rid of it, the way it is, let me know. beside not wanting to run into the problem you have now. it looks out of place cause noting else is shiney under the hood.

thanks
joe

 

[94GTLaserRC]

well it's a Powermaster that i bought through a local speed shop.

if you would like to get rid of it, the way it is, let me know. beside not wanting to run into the problem you have now. it looks out of place cause noting else is shiney under the hood.

thanks
joe

Ill trade you my NON chrome one and a chrome case for your chrome Powermaster
RC

 

[donkey_punch]

uhhhhh let me think.
















sorry champ that thing wasn't cheap, but nice try.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

uhhhhh let me think.







amnit:








sorry champ that thing wasn't cheap, but nice try.