Alternative to 50DN.

[TomC]

Is there any other alternators made that are gear driven that can replace the big old 50DN? Or do I have to install a pulley and belt drive an alternator? Good Luck, TomC

[windtrader]

Tom,


What reason is behind not replacing with the same gear drive unit?

[luvrbus]

There nothing out there ,if your blower drive is blank I have some some drives and 200 amp military alternators that drive off a coupling or can drive off any blank aux drive except the 50D drive lol but I am working on a idea

[windtrader]

One other thought on alternatives. The 50DN is the OEM unit with specifications to feed electricity to various systems - start battery bank, heating/cooling fans, overhead lights, etc. that were in the bus for its original intended purpose.


Once the bus is converted, the usage profile changes, sometimes a lot. In my case now, the bus alternator only needs to charge the start battery, run the headlights, and not much else.


I'd bet if put a monitor on the alternator and collected the actual power delivered by it today, it would be so low that just about any car alternator would work fine. It could be mounted (MC8) right off main drive pulley and might even be mounted on an existing bracket.


Has this been discussed? If it something that might work, another benefit is removing the gear drive 50DN that has this potential to wreck a perfectly running motor. Seems like removing this risk is well worth exploring.

[Utahclaimjumper]

You also have the option of using a DUVAC alternator to charge  two differing voltages if needed..>>>Dan

[TomC]

It's just that the 50DN is leaking oil (somewhere) and one of the bolts is stripped. All of which means pulling the 100lb beastie out. I remember that there was a normal 130amp alternator that ran direct off the gear drive, but can't remember the brand. Good luck, TomC

[chessie4905]

I recall seeing a Delco Remy model they offered for that use. Direct driven, no step up back in the 90's.

[luvrbus]

Leece made one that drove from a aux gear with the coupling but there is no adapter made for the Sun (drum) gear for smaller alternators off the cam lol that is a huge hole,you find adapters that go from the aux drive to the 50D but not for the cam drive to a smaller alternator.The belt drive is the way to go.I just changed Mike's bellhousing and gear train on his MCI to get the 50D off his new engine and doing the same on LVMCI model C 

[ts311@yahoo.com]

i know this is an old topic but i wanted to get some opinions and possibly help on alternators.  i took off the old obsolete one that can no longer be rebuilt.  i am replacing it with a higher amperage 24v one and also a secondary one for back up.  what have other people done to upgrade their system.  my idea is to have a decent sized battery bank with capacitors.  then go from there.  however i was told i have to change my v grove system out completely to a serpentine due to v grove belts getting burned up due to the draw of these alternators on HP.

[Van]

What bus, what engine? There are a few options, all depends.