DIY Jeep Mods You Have Done for $100 or Less....
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
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Notice any improvement from the big3 electrical upgrade? I know that on some vehicles, it's night and day... others.. meh.
I am pulling 700w in the back plus the radio puts out 75w to the doors so i had some voltage drops i never had any dimming at all though just volts drop to about 13.0 now even on a hot summer day i get 13.8v and up in the winter i get 14.5 volts so yea it has improved voltage stability to someone not pulling alot of power i would just upgrade the ground wires for the battery and alternator
Forgot to mention i am still running the 136amp alternator that the kj limited edition came with the renegade has a 160 amp i will get if i ever need a new one
renegade 04
Full Access Member
If you upgrade to a bigger alternator you will need to get a external voltage regulator. Also the problem with voltage stability may have to do with the crappy internal voltage regulator.
From what i have read and correct me if im wrong the renegade came with a 160amp alternator which would be a direct replacement for my 136amp and i no longer get a bad drop but i am definatly working the alternator pretty hard and i remember someone claiming they run 2000w all day on the renegade alternator and i thought the voltage regulator just tell the alternator on and off
renegade 04
Full Access Member
I have a total of 230 amps of fused items running on the stock alternator and one battery and I have no problems but most of the large items that draw a lot of current are never on at the same time.
So would i need a new voltage regulator if all i did was upgrade to the renegade stock alternator that came stock in your jeep im assuming my measly 700w is nothing compared to the power your pulling i am a newb to all this stuff so if i sound like i know what im talking about i might know a little but i only know what i have read and learned myself
renegade 04
Full Access Member
You can use the existing internal voltage regulator when you upgrade but if the voltage jumps every where you should install a external voltage regulator. You should also install a voltage gauge so that you can monitor your voltage and see if you voltage jumps around. Having the external voltage regulator has stabilized my voltage.
Thank you and yes I do have a three wire digital volt meter running to the battery so I can always see how many volts I have I don't see it drop so much anymore until everything warms up it drops a bit and that should just be the heat adding resistance to the wire
renegade 04
Full Access Member
Another key to having a good charging system is to have a good battery, I am running a diehard platinum I think group 34/78. Having a good battery will keep your libby starting and running great and it will also put less stress on the alternator.
Yea my battery is brand new but nothing special I first though yellow top but they are ****** now a days I read something earlier about AMG batteries for about $200 supposed to be good what did the die hard set you back
renegade 04
Full Access Member
It cost about 225-250 depending on what sears you go to.
Thanks buddy
John3seventeen
Full Access Member
For less than $100 i got a spare tire bracket extension to push out my spare tire so I could close my hatch with my bigger tires
Offered you one for $50 - did you get it cheaper?
Yes I did. I was about to message you when my shop called me and said they had a bracket they pulled off of a JK (changed out to a swing tire) and said the owner would part with it for $20 so I couldn't resist it. Sorry =\
John3seventeen
Full Access Member
No prob
Dizzydevil
Full Access Member
I stayed at a Holiday Inn for less than $100 I drove my Libby there does that count for this thread lol
Does that include KY jelly??? :Hump:
Most Diehards are built by "Johnson Controls". Same folks who build Interstate, Duralast, AC Delco, and probably 20 other brands[also the (n)Ever Start at WalMart]. The Platinum batteries are built by EnerSys, who also build their own Odyssey batteries.
While all these contract batteries aren't built to the same specifications, Johnson Controls has long been known for building "3/4 plate" batteries. These use plates shorter than industry standard, and a slightly stronger acid solution to develop the same amps as a properly built industry standard battery.
After years of selling them, product built by "East Penn" will always be my Go-To battery supplier. These are labeled "Exide" ,"Electro", NAPA, O'Riley Super Start, and dozens of others.
There are only about 4 actual manufacturers in the U.S.
Bob
