crunkjuice1

I think it already aired not sure though

Awesome! Love the etched magnet

Beautiful alternator!!!!

Is there a POT/AVBM on the wire harness that was sent with your alt? Is the car factory alt harness straight plug N play? If there was a harness sent with the alt that sits between the alt and the cars factory alt plug it might have a AVBM that you can adjust. Its kinda small and it takes a flathead screwdriver to adjust.

The negative ground stud needs to go directly to the negative of the battery. with the same 1/0g size power wire you used for the positive stud to positive on battery.

When you call them discuss how exactly you will be using the alternator, ask about the external regulator as I believe its a option. What would be the pros and cons with or without the external regulator. Mechman explains why my alt setup and I'm pretty sure any other one using an external regulator benefits from it in his post #14. I aimed at idle output so my unit varies from other ones for my truck. Mechman explained to me "The unit that you have now will make slightly better output below 800 rpm engine speed than the 340 amp unit will. If your truck idles below 800 rpm, you might notice a decrease in voltage at idle compared to the 250 amp unit you have now. At any RPM above 800, the 340 amp unit will outperform your current unit." As you can see if you have a 97 5.4l expedition you can get a 340amp unit for this truck as well. Good luck and please throw some pics up of whatever you get

most likely they are updating that section of the website to show off even more fitments on a variety of previuosly not listed cars/trucks.

Great to see this!!!

DMM neg to ground and pos to alt positive post.

once charged the charger floats at a certain voltage. when you disconnect the charger the battery still stimulated from charge. overnight the battery voltage comes down to a resting voltage. thats the one you would want to see around 12.9v or as close to it. thats normal.

give them a call tomorrow.

Whatever you do its going to be badass! Personally I just want to see what you do for your electrical and what Mechman cooks up, whatever it is its going to be a joy to see you in your comfort zone building away.

Gucci SMD

Thats badass! The ones Kneeling are other voltage meters by the way.

Welcome to SMD

Can you tell us some info on the regulator thats working out? Its sucks to have things like this happen but every little bit of info one can have is always a plus.

Sorry to hear this but it seems as a on issue most likely you will have to send the unit back again after getting the ok from them. sucks to hear that but try to go over the whole install with Josh over the phone and explain whats going on then you can take the next step in fixing this once and for all. You may feel like your walking in circles but I'm pretty sure you will get it resolved.

I have had this running for a few days now but I still have to clean up the wiring. I used the IDEAL brand terminal assortment in 10g to 12g (yellow plastic) from Lowes and the harbor freight crimper I got awhile back needless to say it looks worse than it is lol. I'll straighten it all out I promise! Heres regulator and heres the relay a bit up from regulator. the red and black wires over the relay are the field and negative coming from the harness MM made for my setup going to the external regulator. I can close the hood and not smash anything which at the moment is what I most concerned with.

Your setup might be totally different from mine but did the alt come with a wire harness that is only two wires that go to the regulator? field red negative black? External regulator needs a relay with from what I used and others say connections in 8g and short as possible with good grounding of the regulator and relay grounds. I'm new to the external regulator setup myself and from the bit of talking with Josh over at MM the relay needs to be on a switched ignition source, in my case I have a voltage meter in dash that I use a actual switch to turn it off and on so thats where I used 12g speaker wire to the relays turn on point. Always charge the batteries prior to installing a alt, on the POT turn it all the way counter clockwise at start up turn your brights and AC on to create a load and rev the RPM's up a bit then while thats going on set the voltage to say 15.1 cold start if you are using AGM batteries. Good luck hope I helped some what as I said I might be way off but these are things to look at.

I called mechman and spoke to Josh because on my invoice it even said I was aware of light coming on. After setting it up no light has come on. From what he explained it will vary from car to car. I thought maybe because I used the OE power cable maybe that helped but not really sure. I used the IDEAL brand 20pk terminal assortment 12 - 10g (yellows) from lowes. Everything except the ignition turn on was done in 8g the turn on was done in 12g off a switch I use to turn my voltage meter off and on. This last part might bother some but I'm cool with it. EDIT: fourth pic from last one up you can see the red and black wires that came with my setup. They go to the regulator field and NEG connections, the OE harness from truck is zip tied out the way.

Bit the bullet the other day and went at installing this bad boy, Tensioner doesn't bottom out but still gonna try to get a belt maybe a half inch to an inch smaller. The regulator is over by the CAI filter and relay is up on firewall as well as the ground for relay. These pics show the alt fitment as this was what I was focused on at the time. The regulator voltage is solid even with a good 30 min drive voltage really doesn't change so I'm keeping it at 14.8v. Thanks again Mechman. I had to use a drill bit to open up the OE positive cable terminal ring but I did keep that in the connection as well. Only thing I can add is maybe its just the whole I have a new alt feeling but my truck seems to run alot calmer while driving around as it seems it doesn't have to put out as much effort to get to a certain speed. I have ACCEL COP's they say they are meant to give a better spark and it just might be that they are getting the power they need to right now. Thanks

just keep calling you will get through. This weekend will get in the way but monday let it rip.

I have 8g Cadence speaker wire of various lengths I am going to try to keep the lengths short.

AMI what are "signs" that I'm guessing you mean the regulator didn't like long runs with thin wire?

I will text you monte if my wife is off in the weekend so I dont have to load up the truck with all my 10 kids lol. And you ae correct Mike its going into my 97 ford expedition.