Hello all, I have a few questions.
1. My dash ac does not work. Thinking of adding a second alternator to charge house batteries only and separating my starting battery from my house batteries. My battery isolator does not work any longer. BUT...
2. Would it be better to just charge the house batteries from the inverter charger with the generator since I have to run the generator anyway for AC?
Thinking it would be less strain on the old 454 and may make it run cooler ( not that it runs hot now but if I add a second 150 amp alternator it may ).

I have an aims inverter charger by the way. Not the old converter.

My dash AC never worked. I run the generator to keep the ACs running and it does charge the coach batteries as well.

Like you I figure the engine already has enough to do dragging the coach along.

It may be tricky to get another belt and alternator set up anyway.

I considered putting another alternator where the non working ac compressor is mounted , but I decided that I really don't need it . Like most , we run the generator for the air conditioning anyway . And if we don't need the ac on , it won't hurt anything to exercise the generator while charging the house batteries. That being said , currently our battery isolator works fine and I would probably replace it if it failed. Doesn't hurt to have two systems to charge the house batteries just in case one fails .

The 454 from our era on the P30 chassis has a reputation for "eating belts". Adding another alternator could be done, but it might turn out to be a source of frustration. I have seen the electrical work done by the young men with the load sound systems on their little cars, and some do great work with installation of additional alternators for powering the amplifiers. However, if their hardware has problems, they aren't playing loud music, and their support shop is a few miles away. You might be on a long trip, and need this for creature comforts.

I would think that if more "juice" is needed, going to a serpentine system from a late model 454 or 502 is the ticket, and then using an upgraded alternator, perhaps with a smaller diameter pulley. This will also require upgrades and replacement to the wire harness. This will also require a changing the AC compressor to match the new configuration, and the hoses to the AC compressor.

There are two major variants of the serpentine system. Both drive the water pump in the reverse direction, so you will need a new water pump for compatibility. The major difference between the two versions is the side of the engine that the alternator is on. The AC compressor will be on the opposite side.

The pictures shows a recent purchase, that might be used the next time I "really dig in" to the 1986 454 in my Barth. This serpentine system moves the alternator from the passenger side to the driver side. If I have a choice, I would prefer not to do that.

Happy Motoring,
Matt

quote:

Thinking of adding a second alternator to charge house batteries only

This makes me think of what I have seen some car builders do, when they want to come up with the "T-bucket" and have the engine area look very focused on just the engine.

They will hide the alternator under the car, at the rear of the transmission, and use a pulley concentric to the U-joint. The alternator mounts on the frame of the car, and they add on a tensioner as well.

If it can be done on a T-bucket, it "should" be mechanically easy on a P30. There would need to be support wiring. I would assume that this is a completely custom and fabricated mechanical idea, and that there are no parts kits available to help.

Matt

quote:

Originally posted by BarthBluesmobile:

quote:

Thinking of adding a second alternator to charge house batteries only

This makes me think of what I have seen some car builders do, when they want to come up with the "T-bucket" and have the engine area look very focused on just the engine.

They will hide the alternator under the car, at the rear of the transmission, and use a pulley concentric to the U-joint. The alternator mounts on the frame of the car, and they add on a tensioner as well.
If it can be done on a T-bucket, it "should" be mechanically easy on a P30. There would need to be support wiring. I would assume that this is a completely custom and fabricated mechanical idea, and that there are no parts kits available to help.

Matt

I never thought of that. What an interesting idea. I think ice cream trucks in the UK use a similar system to power there soft serve ice cream machine compressors.