alternator info needed ! - vectra 1.7td (how many amps for my sound system?)

[gx-x]

I am new to this forum so first off all I wish to say: Hi everyone

second, I have used search before I started this Thread.

Now, I have problem whit finding out which alternator do I have in my '96 Opel Vectra 1.7TD with isuzu engine. Info or links would be very much appreciated since I can't find any usefull ones. What I acctualy want to know is what is it's output power, how many ampers. I need to know this because I want to put some sub-woofers and another battery.
I am not much of a technician, or read: I do not have a clue where alternator is :d so it would be difficult for me to look under the hood and see for my self

thanks in advance.
PS. Did I post this in right section ?

[GTJIM]

You have found the forum which mainly deals with pre- 1975 Opels that were imported into the USA. However ALL Opel owners are welcome! Yes you have posted to the exactly the right place - congratulations.

Your Opel Vectra must have the 1.7L Isuzu Diesel motor which has a special alternator with a vacuum pump attached to the back of it to provide vacuum for the brakes booster. So swapping in a Delco alternator like you probably saw in your search on this site will not be possible as it does not have the vacuum pump on it.

THe alternator in your car is mounted to one side of the motor at the front with a belt driving it - the alternator is a shiny silver part about 120mm in diameter and 100mm long.

Most modern cars have plenty of electrical output from the alternator to run stuff like air conditioning etc. so there will probably be enough out put from your existing alternator to run a respectable sound system - have a talk to who ever is selling you the system to get their recommendations on the output needed. Also ask them to point out the alternator and give you a bit of a description on how it all works - if they don't want to do this (or cannot!) then find a sound system supplier who will!

[gx-x]

Thanks for quick response ! I googled for opel forum and was wondering what was all the "GT" speak all about Now I know.

You gave me an excellent info regarding that vacum pump and saved me a lot of money as I was acctualy allmost on my way to buy delco HO 200A alt. I'll see what I can do about all this. Still need precise info, I gues I will have to make local dealer try harder to find this out for me. I live in former Yugoslavia and people here are...well, kinda "not informed" about "details" for most of them my current sound system is something they didn't know can exist and as for the sound diler, LOL, I would have to go abroad to find one here you can find 8cm up to 18cm 2-way 3-way in cabine speakers, and shure, every alt can drive thoese. Thaks for the advice anyway, really appreciate it !

[Scott McDonald]

From what I'm reading, you want to stabilize output of your stereo. It also appears you are considering upgrading your alternator and adding a battery. If you don't know what your doing, this could potentially destroy your car, and/or kill you in the process. Even though a battery is only 12volts, it will carry high amperes. Amperes are what can stop your heart if your physical body completes a circuit.

Here is what I'm told by folks that know more about this than me:

Unless you are going to be pulling a very high constant draw of energy, an extra battery and upgraded alternator is not cost effective, or practical. You said your just adding a couple of subs. With a couple of subs comes at least one amplifier. Potentially, you will have a power draw to smallish amplifiers and a crossover(s). Yes-Your constant draw will be higher, but this draw shouldn't be out of capacity for todays alternators, coupled with appropriate equipment.

You will most certainly experience "dimming" of your lights during peak draw events-ie., loud, deep bass. This draw however, is not constant, only occurring for a fraction of a second. Therefore, depending upon your use, discharge can be stabilized by the addition of an appropriate capacitor. The capacitors will discharge their energy during those times of peak draw, hopefully eliminating any dimming that may be occurring otherwise.

Then, if you upgrade even more, you may need to replace your alternator with one of higher capacity, as you may find that your capacitors aren't receiving an adequate recharging load (you may begin to see the occurence of lights dimming, distortion).

Only under extreme conditions where your constant draw is very high, would one find the need to add a auxiliary alternator and batteries.

[gx-x]

@Scott: Thanks for the info. Yes, I do need a capacitor, that I know allready, what I am trying to find out is how much power my alt is giving because I don't want to end up with a capacitor that my alt cant charge and my battery empty and my alt dead after two months Currently, I have a "Jensen" 4x75W RMS (at 4ohm) bridged to 2x150W. Manual says "max current draw - 45A" and I am hitting just about that with 2xGTO1200B JBL subs connected to it. I am also hoping that all I need is a capacitor, I just want to make sure that my alt can handle it.

Thaks for the info again. If someone can suggest a car parts web site with specs I would appreciate that very much. All I can find are sites that require me to order the part and "the part" being "cat in a bag" since there are no real specs execept "alternator for opel vectra"

[baz]

have you had a look on e- bay ?
i hate to do there advertising but it may be your quickest way to get 1
other choices would be british scrap / breakers yards that are online
[i will look tonight for some links ] they will normaly ship to europe no problems
where in the former are you ? i used to holliday in the istrian area before the troubles

[Paul]

You might try talking to an advisor from Crutchfield. Checkout their site: http://www.crutchfield.com/

Their phone number is 888-955-6000

I have made numerious purchases from them over the years and they have always been most helpful on technical issues.

[baz]

try
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

[kwilford]

Yes you have posted to the exactly the right place - congratulations.

Well, almost. If you had a pre-'75 Opel, and if the thread stayed on track regarding the unique alternator, then yes. Since we have a number of Euro and NZ Opel owners on board, the questions relating to these models are still welcome. Normally I would move this to the "Other Models" Forum, but since it is REALLY about sound systems, I'll move it there.

[gx-x]

Now, I have problem whit finding out which alternator do I have in my '96 Opel Vectra 1.7TD with isuzu engine. Info or links would be very much appreciated since I can't find any usefull ones. What I acctualy want to know is what is it's output power, how many ampers.

Thanks to everyone for the links. I am still trying to find out what I have stated in the first post

[GTJIM]

gx-x Try the Polish Vectra website at:

http://www.vectra-unlimited.org/

Hope you can read Polish though ...... ( I cannot!)

[nobody]

does it look like this?

http://www.cqout.com/item.asp?id=1468402

[gx-x]

I cannot too, but will try to search "keywords"

[nobody]

it appears 70 amp was stock for your year of car.

[GTJIM]

[QUOTE=nobody]does it look like this?QUOTE]

Exactly, Dave! That black bit on the left hand end is the vacuum pump.

gx-x Looks like you have a 70 amp alternator on your Vectra Diesel.

[gx-x]

@nobody: yeah, sort off... It's standard hitachy that goes with vectra 1.7td isuzu version...

[gx-x]

ok, 70Amps alt. ! finnaly, thats what I wanted to know. Now, with that alternator and 1F capacitor am I safe to use 2x150W RMS subs ? (hooked to a amplifier with max power draw of 45A)