Description
1 x Twin Alternator Mount & Fan Belt (200tdi Defender Engines).
Part Number:- GL1106, 200tdi Defender Engine Twin Alternator Mount
Manufacturer:- Gwyn Lewis 4×4
Weight:- 3.6Kg
Fits:- 200 Tdi Defender Engines.
This kit consists of:-
1 x Alternator Mounting Kit.
1 x Fan belt, 13A1225C DAYCO.
This mount allows a second alternator to be fitted to charge auxiliary batteries instead of a split charge system.
An original 200Tdi 12 volt alternator or a 300Tdi 12 volt alternator can be fitted to the mounting plate, we can supply a high output 300Tdi style alternator, 12 Volt 100 Amp A127i YLE10113 if required.
We recommend using an A127i Alternator, these have an internal cooling fan blade, an A127 Alternator has an external cooling fan blade which can fowl on the tensioner arm of our mount, and an unshielded external fan blade could be a hazard.
This mount will bolt onto your engine using existing bolt holes it is supplied with a water pipe guard and a fan belt.
If you do not already have them fitted to your engine you will need:
A 3V Grove Crank Pulley, see HERE
A wider V Grove Pulley for your alternator, see HERE
See HERE for a Spare Belt to suit this kit (This Belt is supplied with our Alternator Mount)
For use in expedition vehicles or in any vehicle where you want to power auxiliary equipment using a second battery, up to more extreme use where you need to maximize charge current on winch challenge vehicles.
What you must remember is your batteries are just an electric storage tank, it’s the alternators that do the hard work, the quicker you can charge the batteries the more power you will have, even with a split charge system you still only have one alternator supplying your electrical system.
The Benefits
Two alternators using separate charging circuits are far better than a split charge system running off one alternator.
Most split charge systems are basically just a switch that automatically joins your batteries together in parallel once you start your engine and your main battery starts receiving charge.
- With a split charge ideally both batteries want to be identical, different batteries charge in different ways, that’s why ideally they should be the same type, same age and in the same condition. For example, an AGM Deep Cycle Battery like an Optima does not want to be charged alongside a regular car battery, they take charge in different ways, and a single alternator regulator cannot separate the charging needs of two different batteries simply linked together in parallel.
- A Better way to charge two batteries with only one alternator is to use a DC to DC charger, as it totally separates the main battery from the second battery. These are becoming more common with smart charge systems and special batteries. The disadvantage to this is that a DC to DC charger can only supply up to about 20amp maximum charging current whereas a second alternator can supply 100amps.
- Two alternators keep things simple, no extra control units, you have two completely separate charging circuits so different batteries are no problem at all, you could have one high cranking amp starting battery as your main with a deep cycle battery as your second for powering axillary/expedition equipment. Just let each individual alternator’s regulator determine the charging demand of each individual battery.
- You can manually link both batteries together in parallel to maximize charge current to high current draw equipment such as winches on winch challenge vehicles, this should only be done when drawing large current, charging circuits must be separate during normal use.
- By having two alternators, if one went down then you still have another to keep you going.
Battery Maintenance
An alternator in normal use will replace the charge that you are using, but it won’t charge your batteries up to full peak charge, to do this you need to use a specialist mains powered maintenance trickle charger that will slowly and gently charge your batteries up to peak capacity. This is particularly important with batteries like Optima Yellow tops, they will take a lot of abuse, and they can be deeply drained of charge but they must be properly recharged back up to peak capacity after to avoid premature failure. This can only be done by using a slow trickle charge, an alternator cannot do this on its own, it can take a day or two to fully recharge a heavily discharged deep cycle battery using a specialist trickle charger.
Wiring:-
The kit is supplied with a wiring diagram and this can be downloaded in my Fitting Instruction.
In my opinion, earthing the alternators are very important, this is how you get a maximum charge out of your alternator, high output alternators can’t always earth properly through the bolt holes, I even earth the standard alternators as the mountings are bolted to a painted engine block and rust and corrosion over the years will cause poor earth.
You must remember the batteries are just an electric storage tank, it is the alternators that do the hard work, and the quicker you can charge the batteries the more power you will have, this is why my alternator wiring kits are very heavy duty.
Fitting a relay as a secondary ignition is important due to you having 2 wiring circuits so it keeps everything separate.
All this can be found on my Alternator Wiring Kit.
See HERE for a youtube video of my Challenge truck, you will see how hard the winch can pull when wired properly. This one uses a Gigglepin GP82 winch, 2 x 12v Bowmotor 1, two off my HD Winch Wiring kits, one for each motor, two Albright Solenoids, one for each motor, two yellow top optima batteries charging through my second alternator which is 12v 100Amp. All connections are good and nothing gets hot, I can also connect my 3rd battery to the winch batteries when winching, this will then give 200amp of charging current.
A wiring diagram is supplied with each kit, a PDF copy can also be downloaded HERE.
Fitting instructions are also supplied, a PDF copy can be downloaded HERE