|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
06-07-2015, 09:52 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
|
Powermaster alternator
I read the article in the latest Model A Times about the Powermaster 6 v alternator and was intrigued. I have been sticking with the generator I have on my town sedan, even though I have halogen headlight bulbs. I don't drive enough at night for it to make a difference. I am driving the car to Niagara Falls for the MARC meet and I thought I should probably change to an alternator.
I hate the way the modern alternators look. I believe that one can get an alternator built in an old generator housing, but I thought I would go the Powermaster route, in spite of the extra cost. My original order was on eBay. I searched Powermaster Model A alternator and got a hit on eBay. Alright, so I ordered it. Well, a 12 v alternator arrived. I went back to eBay and at the very bottom of the page it said 12v. Okay, shame on me. I ordered the 6v variant over the phone from Jegs, so this weekend I installed it. Works great so far, but I have only driven a few miles with it. Here is what it looks like. |
06-07-2015, 10:18 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I might be just me, but I can't see spending that kind of money to replace something that works.
Remember the proverb "For the want of a nail..."?
__________________
What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
06-07-2015, 11:33 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Good point. I hung with the generator for a couple of years. With a long trip ahead of me, I didn't want to get stuck having to drive at night with the genny, having not done it before. With only a couple of years of Model A ownership under my belt, i don't have a ton of personal experience.
Talking to one of our club mechanical gurus, he said changing to an alternator on his car was one of the best decisions he has made. Of course, as with anything Model A, there are a lot of differing, but strongly held, opinions on topics such as this. Last edited by mhsprecher; 06-08-2015 at 06:22 AM. |
06-08-2015, 01:36 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
As long as you have piece of mind and it puts out voltage is all that matters in the end.
__________________
What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
06-08-2015, 02:42 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,496
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
X2 what Mike says.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood. |
06-08-2015, 05:27 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I am interested to hear what others have to say. This forum is all about sharing knowledge and opinion! |
06-08-2015, 06:13 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I too have a Powermaster, arriving tomorrow. I have been fighting burnt out bulbs, boiling water out of my battery, and dyeing at night, after 20 minutes with the headlights on. I had to closely follow a friend, without lights, to get home in the dark. A club member has adjusted the third brush four times, and we cannot get it right. Fully charged battery, and Ampmeter shows about 3 to 4 amps.
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
06-08-2015, 06:18 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: West Australia
Posts: 346
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I installed the 12V version in my pickup. Works well and looks a lot better than the GM alternator that came with my pickup.
|
06-08-2015, 09:04 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Upstate New York
Posts: 1,160
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I posted this in another thread: I didn't see any mention of the Russ Evans alternator that's made in an Model A generator housing. It's the same price as the Summit Racing unit, 45 amps output and it will pass fine point judging. It is impossible to tell that it's not an original generator. It's made in 6 or 12 volts. You specify the month/year of your Model A and it will come with the correct pulley, rear bearing plate and cutoff. Russ's phone number is (805) 583-4221. Address is: 5968 Serena St, Simi Valley, CA 93063. Russ will stand behind his product 100%. I don't have any affiliation with Russ, just a very satisfied customer!!!!
__________________
AL in NY |
06-08-2015, 09:10 AM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,516
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Quote:
|
|
06-09-2015, 09:59 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,046
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Anyone tried/used one of the "Fun Projects" voltage regulators on the generator of their Model A?
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
06-09-2015, 11:37 AM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South California
Posts: 6,188
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Quote:
|
|
06-09-2015, 11:39 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Received my Powermaster today. Putting it in this afternoon.
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
06-09-2015, 11:44 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
What about the #6 wire minimum for the output post? Did you install the #6 ground to the engine?
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
06-09-2015, 12:26 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,516
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Quote:
I dunno. I have ordered at least one from him in 12 volts. The car in the picture below has his alternator on it. (I do apologize for the rusty/dirty engine however these pictures were taken while the car was on the Blueridge Parkway tour a few years ago and they had ran thru rain.) It works great at keeping the battery fully charged with halogen bulbs and other accessories. As for him not offering 12 volts, I am not sure why this would be an issue since the alternator he is using started life as a 12 volt unit. Maybe what he meant to say is that he did not have a 12v unit assembled at that time?? As far as price, ...everything is relative I suppose. The engine in the vehicle pictured below has an aftermarket balanced crankshaft on inserts, a hi-compression head, Stipe cam, big valves, enlarged intake manifold, etc. With the 3.27 rear gear ratio, this combination has no problem at all strolling down the highway and up the hills, ...yet with all of these modifications it still looks 110% original to the masses. Even the 'educated folks' can spot the Powermaster generator over an original unit, ...however having an alternator stuffed inside of the original generator case is about as stealth as you can get. . |
|
06-09-2015, 01:14 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I attached the ground wire to the engine block, just to be sure.
My purchase was based on my upcoming drive to Niagara Falls and the article in Model a Times. Had I not been going north, I probably would not have made the change. Although my car is not judged, I really don't like the way a modern alternator looks on a Model A engine. Ideally, I would have gone to Russ, but given my timeline, the Powermaster was a good alternatorive. ;-) |
06-11-2015, 10:35 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Well.... It's all in.
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
06-11-2015, 04:46 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,817
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
Brian, note I connected the wiring to the back of the "cut out." When I attached the wires to the front connection, it blew the fuse. I checked the MA Times article and the connections are to the nut on the rear of the "cutout".
|
06-11-2015, 07:28 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I checked the fake cut-out, and the connection is straight through on this one. Seams to be working great. The headlights are bright, and the horn never sounded better.
I'll research that further, and I do appreciate the heads up. I'm learning every day. I just need to remember what I've learned.
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
06-11-2015, 07:55 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
|
Re: Powermaster alternator
I see the Model A Times photo, and I double checked the fake cut-out again. It is a straight through, solid steel bar.
I wired mine as the old one was, and I think my wiring looks better than MAT. I really appreciated the heads up. You can NEVER be to careful with electrical. Thank you.
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|