1967 Barracuda alternator upgrade question

rumblefish360 said
I know a lot of people here tell tales of burnt up parts but I have never seen 1 example. Only claims. Not that I think it is impossible but ... still haven’t seen it.

I am also not so crazy as to install a 100 amp Alt. on a 30 amp gauge. That’ll jus burn up the gauge of the draw is ever needed.

Same here. The photo that 273Dart has posted in other threads, and I'm sure he's seen, is from a truck with a plow or winch. These are always wired to the battery. In fact, the draw from a winch can be so high only the battery could supply it. Wiring additional equipment to the battery becomes a problem with ammeter type charging circuit. Its that much worse when its stuff that can draw the battery down and/or requires constant recharging.

MObarracuda said
I would have thought the Chrysler engineers would have specified a gauge where they only used up to 80% of gauges rated amperage to achieve a continuous duty rating. So, theoretically if the stock alternator made 35amp they would have specified wiring and the gauge for 42amps or more.

The charging circuit was designed to handle high loads only for short periods. Starting and recharging. As the battery recharges, the current it demands gets less and less. So even if its 25 amps initially, in a minute or two its down to 10 and then 5 and finally 0 amps.

Continuous loads are where it gets in trouble. A car with A/C and lights and fan on sitting in traffic idling can end up running on the battery instead of the alternator. So the charging circuit is seeing continuous load, at lower voltage (12.5 instad of 14.5) therefore higher current draw, and the battery is getting drained. When engine rpms come up, the battery wants to be recharged and will take all the current it can, so again the ammeter and charge circuit are working hard.

The rest of the gages are on a voltage limiter.