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MG TD TF 1500 - Need comments on alternator conversion

Now that I know that I have the wrong generator (Thanks to Dave Dubois) I'm struggling with the decision to spend the extra bucks and convert to an alternator. I understand that a conversion is about double the cost of a replacement generator. Does anyone have any comments, experience, with the conversion, maybe even some pics to share. I have a TF1500. Thanks in advance for any info.
Mike Moryl

Mike

I guess that the choice is one of personal preference. I have been driving MGTDs for over forty years. The generator has always been enough to power everything that came on the car. As I do not drive much at night and have no radio or other equipment I have never needed anything other than a generator. They can be rebuilt locally and the one from Moss while not an exact copy of the original from Lucas works great on my 53TD

Tom Manion
T. L. Manion Thomas

Mike,

I agree with Tom. I would stick to a generator. It seems sufficient for most uses. The heavier load situations are short lived and can draw the needed amperage from the battery. The generator can recharge the battery when the load falls.

One think I have not seen discussed is the need to increase the wire gauge between the generator - voltage regulator and regulator - ammeter and ammeter - battery. I believe the wiring harness has 44/0.30mm wire in this path which is good for only 25.5 Amps of carrying capacity. A heavier load with a high output alternator could spell trouble for a stock harness.

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

I forgot to question the current carrying capacity of the voltage regulator. Higher current could present a problem there too.
Evan Ford - TD 27621

I suspect that the regulator would be by-passed or replaced with one for the alternator if it didn't have a built in regulator, of the current carrying capacity of the regulator is probably not an issue. The wire size, however, would be an issue.

An alternator would be a welcome addition if you are going to install high power halagon headlight and additional driving lights for a lot of night time driving. Even driving withthe lights on all the time and with an auxiliary power plug used to power our laptop computer so my wife can use a map program to navigate with, I have not found it necessary to have additional current capacity in our TD. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I have fog lights in my car and run them and the headlamps and the dash lamps and power my GPS and cell phone, all from the generator. Would have to agree that this is enough power for what is needed on the TD and while I dont know much about electricity I would think that with the higher output of the alt. that a heavier wire loom would be ness.
Tom

Mike -- What generator do you have??
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Mike,

Don't forget you'll lose the use of your rev-counter (tachometer for the unwashed!).

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Gordon - Mike was looking into one of tha alternators that Jerry Felper has modified to include a tach drive at the rear. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Thanks for all your input. Looks like the general preference is to stay with stock. I prefer to search for a replacement rather than adapting my current arrangement. From what little I found, the Moss unit is about the same price as a newly rebuilt generator, but I'm going to look around a little before making a final dicision. For Bob Jefers question regarding what I have: Dave DuBois was kind enough to provide me with the info. His research indicated that my generator is a combination of a MGA/MGB generator and a TD/TF generator - the body is a MGA/MGB generator body and the rear plate (and possibly the front
plate) is for a TD/TF. Thanks again for all of the responses. I would be lost without your help!
Mike Moryl

Mike -- Thanks for the info on your generator. If it is from a late MGA or an MGB it would have C40 stamped into the case. The max current rating for that is 22 Amps. I am running one in my TD. Mine came from a 1967 MGB. The armature is modified to have the piece that drives the tach. cable and a fitting has been put on the rear end-plate the fasten the gearbox to. This combination has been working for more than 3 years now with no trouble. I certainly appreciate the extra current capability this generator has.
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2006 and 07/11/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

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