GM Alternators

inertia said

I still service a buncha these vehicles over decades, all kinda owners/ drivers/ stereos/amps, - a couple are daily drivers.
You know how many regs I put on in the last, hmm decade, one.
Alternators, - none, - I have put brushes and bearings in 3 or 4.
My own vehicles/kids , none in decades, or since built .
I'm sitting on a wooden chair (embracing it, lol)
Cheers .
Who cares if the alt doesn't put out at red lights with appliances, wipers, heater on, - the car doesn't care .
Thats what the battery is for, ballast, and if you notice, 50+ years later, stock ones are still running around.

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Agreed. If your alternator keeps your battery charged over a week of driving, it is doing its job. Relatives and neighbors had trouble with that in several cars (Mopar and GM) when I lived in intown Atlanta. I found they were making many short 2 mile trips which wasn't giving the alternator time to recharge for what starting used. That is a case for an alternator which puts out more current at idle, or perhaps connect a charger every Saturday night.

Too many people here worry and over-do the alternator. They add up motor ratings for things like an electric coolant fan and decide they need a 200 A alternator. That is usually just a brief starting surge current for the fan, plus it doesn't run all the time. If too much current and you don't similarly up the wiring, you risk melting wires and connectors, especially under-dash if you don't perform the "MAD Bypass" to keep the newly-high alternator off you dash ammeter.