Regarding this 150D, I couldn't find in the logbooks whether the generator was ever replaced with an alternator. The owner doesn't know. We may go see it tomorrow. But wanted to understand pros/cons of generator vs alternator. My 150D has a plane power alternator but I never knew why it was replaced.
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My questions are:
- Is it essential to replace the generator...?
My 150D had a 35-amp generator. I had a single MAC-1700 Nav/Com (Digital flip-flop conversion of a King KX-170B) with a VOR indicator, intercom, transponder, wing-tip strobes, and the usual beacon and lights. It worked just fine - the battery stayed charged, and the lights didn't dim.
The biggest advantage of an alternator over a generator is that it can deliver a charge a much lower RPMs. Typically, a generator has to spin up to 1700 RPM or so before it's putting out full power. That's because generators don't handle high RPMs that well so they're geared to run slower. Alternators can spin much faster due to their design. As such, they can be geared to run faster at low RPMs.
I did plan on installing an alternator, though, only because I wanted to set the plane up for IFR with dual nav-coms, glide-slope, and a marker-beacon/audio panel.
