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Dual Alternator

Pound Harder... Last Longer!!!
By Duane Uyeda
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Quality tools for a quality... 
   
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Quality tools for a quality job! These are the basic tools which will be used to install the dual alternator kit PROPERLY! Even more important than proper tools is the experience of the hands; Dave's DC Electric prides upon many years of experience in the automotive electrical field.
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The dual alternator kit from... 
   
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The dual alternator kit from Dave's DC Electric. This kit includes 100% new parts; the 160 amp alternator, necessary brackets, hardware, drive belt, wire harness, and relay circuit. Unlike other companies on the market, Dave's provides very detailed instructions, as well as pre-installation and post-installation checklists to ensure proper operation. Dave's makes it as simple as possible for a moderately skilled mechanic to perform this installation.
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The air horn is being removed... 
   
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The air horn is being removed from the throttle body in order to gain access to the drive belt for the factory alternator. Next, remove the upper plastic engine shroud from the motor. Once the top shroud is removed, the driver's side engine shroud can then be removed for slight modifications later.
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Once the spring-loaded tensioner... 
   
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Once the spring-loaded tensioner is loosened, the belt is easily removed from the pulleys.
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When the belt is removed,... 
   
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When the belt is removed, the bottom right foot alternator bolt can be removed. This will allow you to rotate the alternator upward to make room for the secondary alternator.
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Using the supplied brackets... 
   
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Using the supplied brackets and hardware in the kit, the secondary alternator can now find a new home under the hood! Notice how the bracket ties the two alternators together; the lower mount of the second alternator finds its mount within the factory alternator mount cradle. Rest assured that Dave's kit uses the highest quality materials for the modifications.
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Remember that driver's side... 
   
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Remember that driver's side engine shroud we removed earlier? It's now time to shave off the front mounting tab to allow clearance for the secondary alternator. Losing this tab will not affect integrity of this cover, because not only are the remaining mounting tabs still in tact, but it becomes structurally rigid once the upper engine shroud is replaced and secured to the motor.
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Voila! Here is the result... 
   
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Voila! Here is the result of the installation phase. Once the engine shrouds are replaced, and all mounting bolts to the alternators and mounts are tightened, the new belt can be routed on the pulleys. Don't forget to tighten the belt tensioner once everything is in place, and replace the air horn onto the throttle body. When you take a step back to marvel at your labors, this is what you should be looking at.
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Don't take too long a break,... 
   
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Don't take too long a break, because it's now time to make room for the secondary battery! This photo shows the location where the battery tray will be installed, just behind the engine coolant reservoir. The curved metal bracket you see attaching the fender to the cowl will be removed, and the battery tray mounts in the pocket area above the inner wheel well next to the fender. The Odyssey battery is retained on the tray with a supplied hold-down bracket.
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With the secondary battery... 
   
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With the secondary battery in place, the alternator can now be wired to it for charging duties. Wiring the relay seen here will not only activate the alternator once the motor is running, but also isolate the two charging systems. This is critical, because you cannot have two separate alternators sharing charging duties within themselves.
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The relay can be mounted in... 
   
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The relay can be mounted in any fashion, but here it is mounted directly to the firewall of the engine compartment. Dave uses 4-gauge power and ground cables to carry current from the secondary alternator to its battery. Notice how he routes and secures all wiring away from critical areas under the hood. Not only is this a good safety measure, it will promote many years of maintenance-free usage of your new charging system.
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After double checking all... 
   
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After double checking all installation points, it is now time to test it all out. Dave is quick to point out that both the primary and secondary batteries must be fully charged before the engine can be started. If not, the charging systems will show inaccurate readings, complicating the final process. With the motor running, a quick check of the digital multimeter shows the output of the secondary alternator at 14.74 volts. Perfecto! Again, a detailed post-installation checklist is provided by Dave's DC to help ensure that your newly installed charging system is working properly. This really takes the guesswork out of the testing phase.
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Now its time to pat yourself... 
   
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Now its time to pat yourself on the back, the installation has been completed! Note how the secondary alternator system almost looks factory. A kit of such high quality, and with near stock integration under the hood, can only come from a company with extensive engineering design and experience in the automotive electrical field. Dave's DC Electric can provide kits for nearly any late model applications.

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