At 12:01 AM 11/13/2008, neil N wrote:
>Does a 70 amp alternator put out 70 amps at idle?

Every alternator has an output vs speed curve.  The choice of drive
pulleys determines how much output you get at idle speed.

>The good news for me is that I'm pretty sure the 90 am alternator I
>have on my VanaJetta is not going to somehow be too powerful for my
>Westy. Something I was thinking about recently.

As Dennis said, there's an optimum maximum charge rate -- rule of
thumb charge rate in amps about a quarter of the battery capacity in
amp-hours.  But from October '82 (A.T.B.) the 90A alternator was
standard on Vanagons.

Another consideration with large alternators is the drive belt.  I
believe 100A is about as large as you can go with a single vee-belt.

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"

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