50 DN alternator question

[Bill B /bus]

With the new engine, Series 50, my spare alternator is no longer a usable spare as it is gear driven. Question: Is it worth converting to belt drive or just as a core?

[lostagain]

A reman. 50 DN from MCI is about $1200 with one year warranty.

JC

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Third option is to find someone that needs a gear driven one.  Might be worth more than a core that way.

[TomC]

Even converting to belt drive, you still have to have a pressurized oil supply and return for that beast.  I would use either a Delco or Leece Neville air cooled belt drive, like what is used on trucks.  Even making brackets to use two 200amp alternators will be a whole less money then the giant 50DN.  You could wire one alternator for the bus service and the other for the deep cycle batteries.  I know that a 160amp alternator (that is standard on trucks now) is around $200.00 new.  Good Luck, TomC

[Zeroclearance]

Bill;

Does your Series 50 have the 50DN engine bracket and engine brace?  Detroit wants $2K for the craddle mount "ouch"

Dan Holter has Series 50 Transit bus engines and 50DN conversion parts for sale.

My suggestion is to sell your gear driven 50DN and purchase a belt driven 50DN unit.   

[Gary '79 5C]

As much as I keep things in my life quite stock, standard, and stable, I have jettisoned the OEM 50DN alternator in favor to a J180 mount truck alternator. As TomC as mentioned the replacement opprotunity on the road in a remote location is going to be slim. The shipping of a replacement 50DN will be huge. In my application, I am fine with a 140 amp 24V alternator. I did reuse my cradle to accomodate the J180 unit. It is a real industrial brute of a design.
In rereading your post, I see that this is for a second alternator, I am assuming for backup for the electronics of the Series 50. Even more as I would of to the smaller alternator.

Good Luck with your decision,

Gary

[Bill B /bus]

Need contact information for Dan Holter.
The 50 DN was/is in a DD mount on the S50 engine. Came out of a Neoplan Transit.
Yes it is a spare. Somehow I need a low cost swap to the belt driven 50 DN from the gear driven.
All suggestions cheerfully accepted with or without the grain of salt.

Thanks for thoughts,
Bill

[TomC]

I went to the Delco-Remy alternator site.  They have a new alternator- a 40SI that is rated up to 300amps at 12v.  It is a bit bigger then a normal truck type alternator, is air cooled, has the option for remote battery sense regulation (where you have a wire sensing the voltage right at the battery instead at the alternator-more accurate), belt driven, brushless, and weighs about 35lbs-compared to the 50DN that is 100lbs.  Good Luck, TomC

[Zeroclearance]

dan@rclbus.com

Busboys
1825 N. Broadway
Rochester, MN  55906

I was pleased with the 50DN that Dan sold me.

[Bill B /bus]

Thanks to all.
Working with Dan to get a take out 50 DN.
I thought through the alternatives. a -Single belt drive but large capacity or b- two smaller capacity belt drive alternators or c- stay with 50 DN.
c- meets the requirements of  1 no mods to existing system, 2 is large capacity, 240A at 27 VDC.
Again thanks for your thoughts,
Bill

[bevans6]

I have a similar thought process going on, as I consider ways to improve my bus and it's long term reliability and cost effectiveness.  Yeah, I know 30 year old bus and reliability/cost effectiveness is an oxymoron to some...  I like the idea of converting to an internally regulated air cooled 24 volt alternator of modern design.  My 50 DN is belt driven, so presumably converting to another belt drive alternator is not rocket science. 

My question relates to current loads.  What current load is required to recharge the dual 8D chassis batteries after a start?  What is the nominal charge load on a running basis?  The only high current load that I have left, having removed the AC condenser fan, is the bus heat fan - what is it's current draw?

This is all getting to what size 24 volt alternator do I need?

thanks,

[TomC]

Ultimately cheaper-and easier to find-to go with two smaller (like 100amp @ 24v) alternators. Then you also have the redundancy of the extra alternator.  Good Luck, TomC

[Ednj]

Bill- Book mark this site =

http://www.nimcobus.com/