American Power Systems, Inc. takes great pride in the fact that our high output alternators meet Mercedes-Benz’s Body & Equipment Guideline manual recommendations for weight, pulley size, alignment and kilowatt (kW) output. But not all manufacturers can say that, particularly for alternator weight.
We know what you’re thinking … “C’mon. Does one extra pound REALLY matter?”
In short, YES.
In automotive engineering, even minor changes in weight can have significant effects on a vehicle’s dynamics. While upgrading to a high output alternator boosts your car’s electrical system, it can introduce extra weight – an addition that can subtly impact G-force and, in turn, components like the engine mounts, alternator brackets and oil pan. That’s why you need to pay attention to how much extra weight you’re adding.
An alternator’s location – typically at the front or side of the engine – means any extra weight sits forward of the car’s center of gravity, affecting balance and force distribution.
G-force is simply a multiple of gravity. Each pound added to the car must resist or be accelerated by the forces experienced during rapid movement. For example, if your vehicle experiences 1G while cornering, every single pound of added weight translates into one extra pound of lateral force acting on the mounting brackets, engine block, and, eventually, the oil pan.
If the cornering force rises to 2G, that one-pound addition now exerts two pounds of lateral force in the direction of the turn. Multiply this by the number of dynamic events a car undergoes – accelerating, braking, turning, and even hitting those dreaded potholes! – and you can see how significant even a single pound can be over time.
This additional load can:
Mechanics and engineers often note that increased weight can be the tipping point for fatigue cracks or leaks, especially after numerous high-G events. Planning for the long-term impact of these forces up front by selecting a lighter alternator helps your vehicle stay reliable and resilient, no matter how many Gs it encounters.
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