150 V6 Alternator Specs

[Damienandwendy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damienandwendy]

I have just got myself a 11/09 ( aka 2010? )V6 GXL Prado and looking at setting up an Aux battery in the engine bay and running a cable back to the Redarc BCDC1220 charger on my camper trailer.

So far, from what I have read on the forums, I believe the petrol doesn't have the problem of reduced alternator output. Haven't had a chance to run a meter over the beasty yet - is this correct ?

If so, I will probably just go for a isolator for the Aux battery in the engine bay. Here then is my question - what are the specs for the alternator ? I am a little concerned that the load created by the Redarc charger 25-30 amps plus a similar amount for the Aux battery won't leave a whole lot for the rest of the vehicle electrics.

I have searched the forums and googled for the last 45 min and not found the relevant info for the 150 as far as specs go.

[Damienandwendy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damienandwendy]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

Ok, managed to borrow a meter as I am away from home.
At idle the voltage is 13.87 V.
At around 1500 - 2000 rpm the voltage is 13.94 V.

This was after a short trip down to the shops ..... round trip of about 7km.

So I guess the alternator output is fairly "normal" at around 14V. Does anyone know what the current rating is for an OEM alternator ? I have found plenty of info on high output aftermarket ones that start at 140A. I guess its around about 100A, but something more exact would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Damienandwendy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damienandwendy]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

I feel a little pathetic being the only person to reply to my post ..... but as no one seems to know ...... or care to share .... I will post what I have been able to find.

The 150 petrol has a 1GR-FE engine ..... the same donk as the 120 petrol I assume since it has been in service since 2003.

That if my research is correct, has as standard a 100A alternator. So I assume it hasn't been changed and is still 100A.

I believe this should be sufficient to charge the battery on the (camper @ 25A) + (the Aux @ 0 - 30A) + vehicle ...... ( assuming that the starter battery is charged first )

Can someone that has all of this setup comment on any adverse electrical problems with a standard alternator.

Cheers

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

Hi Damien,

I can't help you, but am just as interested in what you discover. (and thanks for answering your own posts..)

I have a new D4D 150, and am slowly setting it up.

We borrowed a friends camper trailer (or more correctly tent trailer) on the weekend, and he has a deep cycle battery in his camper. He has only the original battery in his engine bay, (and the deep cycle sealed battery in the camper), and he has run cables directly off his main battery in th engine bay (via an anderson plug), directly to to the camper.

No isolator, no redarc, no charger, just off the main battery terminals with fuses on both the positive and the negative terminal connections.

He has driven to Uluru, the Sydney, with a waco fridge in the car, and the camper trailer behind, and has had no problems so far, no flat batteries etc.

So my question is...why a second battery in the engine bay, and why redarc isolators etc..... I am genuinely interested (as I am ignorant of these issues as I am new to proper 4w driving/camping). :?:

kind regards.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

Hi all,

The reason we fit isolators is to prevent any accessories flattening the cranking battery.

Not very nice to be hundred of clicks from anywhere, with an auto transmission and no
way of starting the car!

By isolating the two batteries you also have the bonus feature that in the event the cranking
battery dies you may still have the option of jump starting off the aux.

As for charging voltages 13.94V should see you ok, obviously it is nicer to have have around 14.2 - 14.4V
as it will charge the batteries quicker.

With regards to the 13.94V it might also be wise to recheck with say the aircon running as you may find it
drops a tad.

Also make sure you run heavy power cables to the redarc as I have supplied a few alternator voltage boosters to
some who have found that the charger cycles of and on due to voltage drops accross the cables if not
heavy enough.

With regards to the Alternator AH, as long as you keep accessory use to a minimum the standard alternator
should be fine. If you were to turn on all accessories, aircon, screen demisters, wipers etc you would probably
find you barely have enough to run the car let alone charge aux batteries!

Cheers

LeighW

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

I have just got myself a 11/09 ( aka 2010? )V6 GXL Prado and looking at setting up an Aux battery in the engine bay and running a cable back to the Redarc BCDC1220 charger on my camper trailer.

So far, from what I have read on the forums, I believe the petrol doesn't have the problem of reduced alternator output. Haven't had a chance to run a meter over the beasty yet - is this correct ?

If so, I will probably just go for a isolator for the Aux battery in the engine bay. Here then is my question - what are the specs for the alternator ? I am a little concerned that the load created by the Redarc charger 25-30 amps plus a similar amount for the Aux battery won't leave a whole lot for the rest of the vehicle electrics.

I have searched the forums and googled for the last 45 min and not found the relevant info for the 150 as far as specs go.

Have spoken to vehicle fitters at two 4WD accessory shops in Sydney, and both people stated the 150 alternator does not fully charge the second battery, because the alternator cuts out too early . Both people recommended fitting a step-up isolator in the wiring, that will increase the volts to around 14.5 to get maximum charge in the second battery, before dropping back into the 13 volts range. Have not yet had my second battery fitted, although will be doing so rather soon.

Yowie.

Further to this, was told by another vehicle fitter today that the alternator on the 150 Prado, and on other new vehicles, is programmed to charge batteries to about 80% capacity as a fuel saving measure, by reducing the alternator output during vehicle operation. He also stated that some vehicles have a complete shutdown of the alternator during normal driving, and hence no charging, such as the Land Rover.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

There's also the simple mod used on the 120 by putting a diode in the Alternator sense line. ( replace the fuse with a diode, basically )
This effectively tricks the alternator into thinking the battery is about half a volt lower than it actually is, so it raises the charging voltage by the same amount.
Many have done this with success on their 120s but I'm not sure if this mod is applicable to the 150.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Re: 150 V6 Alternator Specs

Also refer to Dual Battery Systems in the 150 Modifications area for more info
on this issue.

Cheers

LeighW

[nelshaun Banned Find all posts View Profile Close nelshaun]

I see. So that's how this alternator works. I guess I'll just set-up mine at 14V. I'm just not sure if this is already enough to handle entertainment gadgets inside the car.

[vk2ss55 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vk2ss55]

Guys I had a 120 D4D and yes it's alt voltage pulled back to around 13.3 after a period of running . I now have a 150 D4D and have been monitoring the voltage and found that it's quite a bit higher than the 120 . It's still up around 13.9 after an hour or so running and will come back to 13.6 after quite a few hours . I have a Redarc on board but I reckon that I could get away without it .
Cheers
Ross