Amps and Alternators. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PanzerSD · #1 11-28-2009, 10:56 PM

I recently did up the headlamps and fog lamps on my SEL, painted the frames black, looks cool

I have a concern. I ran the numbers for all my forward lighting, If everything is lit, it would (by the numbers) total 85 AMPS!! That's approaching my alternator's production limit. At this point I'd start looking for a bigger alternator and increasing my cable sizes right?

compress ignite · #2 11-29-2009, 12:39 AM

You're correct.

pawoSD · #3 11-29-2009, 01:43 AM

If you are running stock wattage then it is no where near 85 amps....

Each 55 watt headlamp would use about 4.58 amps at 12V....or 4.07amps at 13.5V.....so if you have both headlamps and both fogs turned on, thats around 16-18amps. Not 85.... Even if you had an extra set of fogs in the bumper that would only put you around 24ish....add in all other lighting on the car (interior and markers) and I doubt you're much over 30 amps total at the absolute maximum.

85 amps would be an aircraft landing lamp!

PanzerSD · #4 11-29-2009, 02:05 AM

2 x 55/60 H4, 2 x 130W H3, 2 x 55W H3.
I turned my fog lamps on lastnight and it blew the 16 amp fuse. I had with heads on and fogs a total of 480 Watts, but only for a second

PanzerSD · #5 11-29-2009, 02:06 AM

I will be adding relays and taking to load off the factory forward lighting harness.

Ivanerrol · #6 11-29-2009, 06:08 AM

I would be putting installing heavier gauge wiring and an individual fuse to those H3's if you are going to draw that load.

If you are running a high output high end amp and those lights I would be also upgrading your battery.

mramay · #7 11-29-2009, 08:35 AM

I put on a set of dual electric fans and Euro headlights on my 560SEL then blew my 85 amp alternator a month later. The 100 amp alternator lasted maybe five months. I went to my local (Las Vegas) alternator rebuilder and he made me a custom Delco 140-Amp unit that, with some minor modifications, bolted in place of the puny Bosch units. I now have 14.2 VDC at an idle and that alternator will handle ALL the loads from the car. Best $200 I spent for the car.

If you're worried or have blown the alternator, I'd heartily recommend not putting a little Bosch alternator back on the car!!

compress ignite · #8 11-29-2009, 03:55 PM

PanzerSD,

Check out gsxr's install:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_headlights/

compress ignite · #9 11-29-2009, 03:58 PM

"12-13-2008, 09:29 PM
gsxr's Avatar
gsxr gsxr is offline
What, me worry?

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 6,183
All of the "plus" bulbs (plus 30, 50, 80, whatever) are all pushing the limit of the 60/55 watt ratings. They do provide more lumens compared to standard 60/55 bulbs, HOWEVER... they mostly all fall short of any decent over-wattage bulb. You can't break the laws of physics, as long as they are limited to 60/55 watts, they can only put out so much light.

The problem with over-wattage bulbs is that you can not safely increase the wattage very much without stressing the stock, dinky wires in the stock wiring harness (and also stressing the headlight switch by running more current through it than it was designed for). The only overwattage H4 bulb I would recommend for stock wiring is the Osram Hyper 70/65 bulb (now re-named "Bi-Lux" for some reason). I have these in my 1993 300D with stock wiring (and Euro lights). Myself and others who have used them are quite happy with them, they do perform better than any of the "plus" 60/55 bulbs (but they're not cheap!).

Anything larger really should have relays and heavy-gague wires. I have relays & heavy wiring on my other two 124's. The absolute best "overwattage" bulb I have found is the Osram Hyper 85/80... it puts out more lumens on low beam than almost anything else, including Philips Rally 100/90 bulb (which I have in my other car at the moment), or even the massive 130/100 bulbs! The 85/80 low beams are staggering, which is what I was most concerned about. They're practically equal to HID's, IMO. The high beams are also fantastic.

* Standard 60/55 = 1650/1000 lumens
* Good +50 bulbs = 1800/1100
* Osram Hyper 70/65 = 2000/1350
* Osram Hyper 85/80 = 2400/1750 (more on low beam than standard 60/55 on HIGH beam!)
* Rally 100/90 = 2600/1500
* Rally 130/100 = 3200/1600

Photos of my one relay installation are at this URL, another is at this URL, scroll to the images titled "relays".

The Osram Hypers are available from Peter Burgeson, seller "pdburg" on eBay (click here for a direct link). If he doesn't have a current auction for what you want, just email him directly.

An interesting bulb test/review is available at this URL... download the Zip file, and check out the HTML pages with the reviews & ratings. Here's an interesting quote from that review:
...As in previous tests, we have not chosen a blue bulb, as we feel these are purely fashion items which perform significantly worse...

__________________
Dave M.
Boise, ID
1995 E420 - 161kmi (W.I.P.)
1994 E500 - 104kmi (Q-ship)
1993 300D - 185kmi (Sale Pending)
1992 500E - 161kmi (New Arrival)
1987 300D - 306kmi (Sportline Stage 2)
1987 300D - 247kmi (R.I.P.) "

pawoSD · #10 11-29-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanzerSD

2 x 55/60 H4, 2 x 130W H3, 2 x 55W H3.
I turned my fog lamps on lastnight and it blew the 16 amp fuse. I had with heads on and fogs a total of 480 Watts, but only for a second

Why on earth do you need that much lighting? Is that even legal?

A huuuge alternator churning out power will also drop fuel economy quite a bit. 480+ watts takes a lot of fuel to produce.

PanzerSD · #11 11-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Well, normally with headlamps on and fogs, it would be 3 pairs of 55 watt filaments at 330 watts. the fuse blew only because I forgot to account for the extra wattage and because that circuit also powers the left headlamp. Soon everything will get it's own relay and dedicated source, I'll use the factory power wires to activate the relays. My car also has the US configuration fog lamps with the ECE configuration headlamp/fog lamp units. I also am going to put my lower fog lamps on a seperate switch.

mak · #12 11-29-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mramay

If you're worried or have blown the alternator, I'd heartily recommend not putting a little Bosch alternator back on the car!!

Bosch alternators are in higher ratings of 120A and 150A .Pull one out of a W140 for a higher rating .
mak

long-gone · #13 11-29-2009, 08:40 PM

That stuff is great when you're on a less traveled road by yourself or the rare conditions come about when it might actually be needed, but I hope you realize that if you regularly drive with all that excessively bright lighting on at once, it IS blinding to the people coming toward you and in the right circumstances could cost someone their life.

Edited to add: I do see that you're from Canada, perhaps from a somewhat less populated area, where conditions might actually find such a set-up useful. At least I hope so.

Whiskeydan · #14 11-29-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by long-gone

That stuff is great when you're on a less traveled road by yourself or the rare conditions come about when it might actually be needed, but I hope you realize that if you regularly drive with all that excessively bright lighting on at once, it IS blinding to the people coming toward you and in the right circumstances could cost someone their life.

Edited to add: I do see that you're from Canada, perhaps from a somewhat less populated area, where conditions might actually find such a set-up useful. At least I hope so.

+1

Be prepared to "eat my hi-beams" if we meet head on.

To me the stock lighting is fine at legal speeds if adjusted properly.

All these new cars with "driving lights"... mostly out of adjustment.