Internal vs external alternator regulation

[Kevin 007]

So I still have my 60amp factory alternator on my 84. Its keeps up just fine with my no frills/accessory truck. But I would like to do the 3G swap one day anyways. Now, I have had regulators fail on me in the past and on the road, I would simply replace it with one I had under the seat or what the local parts stores had. Are the internal regulators easy to get at with the Alt still mounted? Do they fail on occasion like the external ones do? I like the idea of cleaning up the rats nest of wiring associated with my external regulator.

So I guess the root of my question is, are the internal regulator alternators as reliable if not more reliable then the external units? Less wires has always got to be a good thing.

 

[79jasper]

I would say internal have a way lower failure rate.

Sent from my SM-T537R4 using Tapatalk

 

[Bashby]

Agreed. Probably hiss a lot to do with the "rats nest " of wiring between your old alt and the regulator.

 

[Kevin 007]

Yeah I hate that bundle of wiring that you can't seem to tidy up very well.

 

[Giddy-Up]

Two of my trucks have 3g's that I pulled from junk vehicles, one has over 120k one's closer to 200k. And no problems with the regulators I just replace the brushes since I trust the old regulators better than new stuff.

 

[franklin2]

Besides corroded connections, the external regulators are just a reliable as anything else.

 

[PwrSmoke]

Internal regulators are also subject to heat. At high output, an alternator gets HOT! That's why most OE style (often internally regulated) alternators are only rated for a 50-60% duty cycle, If you check out industrial. 100% duty cycle regulators, you will find they are externally regulated to get the regulator circuitry out of the major heat. Externally regulated also gives some options as far as voltage sources. In the world of everyday, if you don't have any major power draws, like a winch, car-stereo-boombox, welder, etc, it won't matter much to you either way and you may as well go internally regulated but I just wanted to make the point.

 

[dunk]

Besides corroded connections, the external regulators are just a reliable as anything else.

Besides cheap foreign regulators that don't work out of the box or fail within weeks... But yes, the biggest problem I've seen with dozens of external regulated 1G alternators is the 30+ years old dirty rusty corroded connections and wiring that has hacked and spliced. I had good luck with Made in USA NAPA regulators at over $40/ea while the foreign junk under $10 at Advance, hit or miss. Of course NAPA may be foreign junk now too, as they are going that way with a lot of parts and the lack of quality of tangible on the overseas stuff.

So, nothing wrong with external regulated alternators, just additional wiring. Cost to go 3g is marginal over replacing a 1g+regulator+wiring and you get twice or greater output along with cleaner more consolidated wiring... That's why I went 3g, and I waited until my 70a externally regulated unit went on the fritz. You'll have the remove a 3g in most mounting positions to replace the regulator but it's quick and easy, and you can get just the brushes as that's what typically fails.

 

[theguruat12]

Also, the brushes are cheap. The 3G I installed was from a junkyard, but I had it tested, and it tested good. Still, I didn't want to be replacing brushes anytime soon, so I got a new set from Merle's (Plenty of online stores have them too) and installed them from the start. I actually got two sets, for when this one eventually wears out. I like the design, it's a little cartridge that screws on to the inside of the regulator and faces the rotor shaft.

If I remember correctly, the whole regulator only costs like $30 as well, so even when it goes, it's not going to be more than the external unit. Plus you get the space on the fender for other goodies, such as a Duralift or something.

 

[typ4]

When ordering parts, Transpo is a good brand to use. They had the only regulators that held up, and they do make an adjustable voltage external old style reg for the 1G.

 

[Matt_INW]

Original external on mine, still good. Ended up replacing it with one from NAPA when troubleshooting an issue (turned out to be a loose wire). But kept new one on because it was only $20, didn't want to mess with it again, and the new one responds quicker than the original. Keeping original as a backup though.