oh yeah,

i just fabbed up a home welder for about $60 worth of parts.
I got a used GM alternator (from a 1977 olds98) and modified it to produce 60amps, 90 Volts DC and i installed the whole thing in a weekend. pirate only used the Ford style alternator so i'd thought i'd be a little diffrent.

from undernieth,

the thing is pretty cool and makes a weird buzzing sound, i think it has something to do with the frequency, and it can only do small rod, but it'sd a great lil cheap welder

so what did you do to defeat the voltage regulator?

a buddy of mine has a couple of 24 volt alts from a military chevy and i need to figure out how to defeat the voltage regulator for use. i imagine once i do a 24volt alt will do the job nicely!!.

I believe he, opened up the alt, and took out the voltage regulating diodes, thus allowing maximum voltage/amperage output, depending on RPM... He and i tested it tonight, it KICKS ASSSS~!!!

:nuke:

Also we get a weird like whine from the arc of the electrode, a voltage frequency resination developed within the ALT and transduced through the arc and electrode durring the wending process.

We were sooo stoked!
http://www.towerofyouth.org/upload/crazydave.jpg
http://www.towerofyouth.org/upload/crazydave2.jpg
1.21GIGGGGAWATTTS OF EEEEEELECTRICITEEEEE

Originally posted by high5
so what did you do to defeat the voltage regulator?

a buddy of mine has a couple of 24 volt alts from a military chevy and i need to figure out how to defeat the voltage regulator for use. i imagine once i do a 24volt alt will do the job nicely!!.

thats why they like to use the ford alts they have a ext reg so all you have to do is engize the alt and your done on them i have 1 that puts out 80v 165amps works great!

on the alts that have internal regulators all you have to do is bypass them . if you cant figure it out send it to me good thing i work in a alt, genator shop LOL!!

Damn this thing works great! I tested it out all weekend and it does well for the price. saturday nite we welded up a front driveshaft on an international and it was gettin to hot so we has to turn the thing down a bit.
I also had to weld a second pully to the crankcase (i'd rather have a ballanced one though)


so what did you do to defeat the voltage regulator?

I cracked the alt open, removed the diode trio and bypassed the regulator. This guy has a good write up on using a Delco 12si alternator as a welder.http://www.huv.com/jon/jeep/Welder/on-board-welder.html

and fukit, its cheap.:beer:

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2472/obweld.html

fawk, im so stoked
http://www.towerofyouth.org/upload/daveweld2.jpg

So, What alternator would you REALLY recomend for this? the Ford? And what part# or year model so I can go get one myself.

Im a bit fuzzy when it comes to the Electrical side of things, but is there a way to put on an external voltage regulator (rheostat type) to control the voltage at full power maybe? Might be easier to use that way rather than using the engine to do it. Just a thought.

Kuddos to you though!!good job!!:D

TTT
Originally posted by Orionn
So, What alternator would you REALLY recomend for this?
I would also like to know

What alternator would you REALLY recomend for this?
I'd use the ford alternator if i wanted to start all over again it's more popular and thus there is more tech support. I'm more partial to chevys, plus jeep CJ's use this same Delco 12si alterantor. I did it as a demonstartion that it could be done with any left over alt you might have lying around.

is there a way to put on an external voltage regulator (rheostat type) to control the voltage at full power
yes, but the engine will have to run at about 3K RPM and the rheostat would have to be rated at a relly high watt rating, and it would have to be used in series with the positive lead. A good 220volt AC rheostat rated at 30A+ would suffice.

here's my write up on the Ford alt

Weldunator (http://members.shaw.ca/milton/weld/weldunater.htm)