Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-19-2014, 10:27 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

If I understand correctly the new 4 cyl can be had with 200, 220 or 250 Amp alternator. With fuel economy being a high priority what would be recommended? Would a 400 AH battery bank be Bulk charged in a few hundred miles with the smaller alternators. Thanks

FastAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 12:12 AM   #2
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

My solar (twin 135 panels) generally has my two 4D batteries up to par by 9-10AM in good sun. I see about 10 amps in standard sunlight. Alternators don't top off batteries but puts them close. A combo of alternator charge and solar is a good combination.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 08:33 AM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

I don't want solar.
FastAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 08:37 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Scalf77's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,490
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by FastAl
If I understand correctly the new 4 cyl can be had with 200, 220 or 250 Amp alternator. With fuel economy being a high priority what would be recommended? Would a 400 AH battery bank be Bulk charged in a few hundred miles with the smaller alternators. Thanks
Well, I would go for the 250, although you may want to compare the specs, such as idle output and such. It really depends on how much you have discharged your batteries, as to length of time to charge.

There are also products such as Sterling Power Alternator to Battery Charger that would decrease the time: http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/vie...sterling+power

-greg
__________________
-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
Scalf77 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 10:01 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
BajaSportsmobile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rancho Nuevo (Cabo/Todos Santos) B.C.S. and San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,952
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

Your concern appears to be based on fuel economy - you will see no appreciable difference with any of those alternators. 250 would be my choice, but not something I would give much thought to.
__________________
Four time Baja 1000 winner, four time Baja 500 winner. Solo'ed the Baja 1000 to LaPaz/Cabo twice.
4-Wheeling since 1972, Desert Racing since 1989.

AgileOffRoad.com
BajaSportsmobile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 01:38 PM   #6
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by FastAl
I don't want solar.
My post was an amperage comparison.
As others have posted it all depends on the total Ah of the batteries you put in the van, how low they are, how much amperage your van itself uses. If you have added load, your stock alternator will take longer to charge and it will depend all that's written above and the alternators output. I found my stock alternator wasn't enough to supply a positive charge while driving with the normal engine load and the add on air conditioner running. I don't have a clue what the Sprinter conversion pulls amperage wise. If the alternator supplies enough to run the van and supplies a positive charge of about 10 amps that would be reasonable and should charge up a 440Ah battery bank from 50% discharge in a few of hours. Start kicking on things like an inverter, refrigerator or other items inside the conversion and it subtracts from the battery charging. A higher rated alternator is generally a good choice just because of all the extra load the conversion itself uses. Also alternator charging supplies a quick bulk rate but tapers off during the absorption state so they'll actually never reach full. As Greg pointed out, equipment like the Sterling alternator to battery charger will better regulate the charge over what a stock alternator can. If you don't want solar the Sterling unit is a good choice.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 09:01 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

I will have the Magnum MS2000 as well.

I thought I had read somewhere that the larger Alternator might sacrifice 1-2 MPG. Seemed high
FastAl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 10:47 PM   #8
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

Maybe post up in the Sprinter section. There might be some Sprinter owners who frequent that section more than the rest of the site. I agree, it seems high.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2014, 11:03 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 127
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by FastAl
I will have the Magnum MS2000 as well.

I thought I had read somewhere that the larger Alternator might sacrifice 1-2 MPG. Seemed high
Doesn't take any more power to spin a larger alternator unless you are drawing more current from it. In which case, that's why you wanted the bigger one. Amp for amp, they are going to draw essentially the same HP from the engine.
chromisdesigns is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2014, 09:34 AM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 52
Re: Sprinter 4 cyl Alternator recomendation

I got the 250 amp alternator.y plan is to use the Sterling 400 amp alternator to battery charger to charge 399 ah LiFeP04 batteries. No solar, assuming all works as planned.

John
14 2500 170
In process of conversion

Formerly: '03 7.3,q4x4, E350
slfjas is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.