June 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 23
Other features that enhance
alternator efficiency
Remote sense is a feature that can benefit
local fleets. It’s not a new technology, but it has
become increasingly common. A small sense
wire reads actual voltage at the battery, signaling
the regulator to increase voltage output to
compensate for any loss
in the heavy cables. This
allows for a higher battery
state of charge, as well as
faster recharge rates.
“Even a half volt diff erence
can cut recharge time in half,”
BorgWarner’s Steele says.
Brushless technology is
also becoming more popular.
Th e main benefi ts are
fewer parts and longer life.
Brushless alternators do
cost more. If a fl eet plans
on keeping the vehicle for
more than a couple of years,
brushless could be worth
the price premium.
“A brushless alternator is
a bit more complex,” Steele
says. “But maintenance is
easier because there are
no brushes. All you really
have to do is keep it clean
so it gets good airflow. Then
it will run cooler and you’ll
get more performance and
life out of it.” Delco Remy
Genuine Products offers
both brushed and brushless
alternators.
C.E. Niehoff off ers brushless
exclusively. Since bearings
represent the only
consumable item, bearing
life is critical to the overall
longevity of the alternator,
C.E. Niehoff ’s Rosenbloom
says. Th us, it should be an
important area of scrutiny
when comparing brushless
alternators.
“Bearing life is determined
by the mechanical
forces on the bearings due
to belt tension in combination
with alternator torque,”
Rosenbloom says. “Bearing
life is also determined by the
quality of the bearing grease,
its suitability for the application
environment and by
how well the bearing grease
is protected from contamination
by sand, dust, water, etc.”
At the other end of the
spectrum are companies like
MAHLE that have continued
to focus solely on brushed
alternators.
“Yes, brushes can get dust hung up on them,”
MAHLE’s Hopko says. “But a good, quality
carbon-brushed alternator can still last a long
time. We’ve gone to a smaller slip ring diameter
to allow space for longer brushes that wear
longer. We’ve gone to special alloys in the slip
ring, and ensure that bearings are rated to
18,000 rpm for more durability.
“As a fl eet manager, you have to determine
what is best for your particular fl eet,” Hopko
continues. “Maybe you’ll have some vehicles with
brushed units and some vehicles with brushless.
Th en see which last longer. Even with brushless,
other things can go wrong and the alternator
can still fail. So you need to take all things into
consideration.”
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