Rapid Power Alternator

Lol you should be paranoid about conductive liquids getting near the only power generation in your vehicle. Also, mall crawlers with 6 inch lifts and 35" tires isn't overkill? This at least can drastically improve the reliability of the vehicle by adding protection to the electrical system. Also you are supposed to bag off the alternator, starter, battery and any other electronics in the engine bay before you spray water at it. Especially since the water is pressurized and can get into the small little gaps fjording a river wouldn't force water into. A lot of people simply don't care. I do, and I am just curious if anyone has tried out one of these alternators or even something sealed.

 

If you didn't go deeper than in that pic water wasn't even near your alternator. Maybe a few splashes towards it but not submerged my any means.

 

It's your money, spend it as you wish.

Just don't be shocked when we judge your decision making since you are posting publicly.

 

Pretty done with this thread now. All everyone is doing is saying it's a stupid idea when all I am asking about is if someone has tried it. Not helpful in the slightest. It doesn't have to be a $2,000 Rapid Power if that is even what they cost. I have yet to find or see a solid price on them. I am a CAD engineer with ~6 years experience. I can design an enclosure for an alternator. But before doing all that work I was curious if it is something someone has done being that it is a huge vulnerability. Stop calling ideas stupid and contribute to the convo. Ask an electrical engineer about water containing minerals and grit entering into a device generating 14 ish volts and easily a few hundred amps ( if you are going through the trouble I would assume it is a beefy high output). They will cringe. A few years ago I asked a similar question to the engineers at my last company.

 

I would say at this point in the tread it would be a safe assumption that nobody has tried out these water cooled sealed alternators.

It's OK to let the subject drop.

 

I don't like the term mall crawler, I prefer high water machine

 

That's right down the road from me...

 

I like turtles

 

@stronghammer hows your alternator turtle boy?

 

turtle turtle.

the new one is doing just fine lol.

the old one is, well, it's there. haven't had a chance to clean 'er up

 

I'm still betting once you get the mud out of it it'll work fine.

 

probably so, hoping that's the case.

 

Lol @ thread.

 

Has anyone completely sealed their engine bay, so it't water and air tight? I've been thinking about doing this. It should prevent all moisture and dust problems. I plan to fill it with nitrogen so the rubber and plastic parts won't age. If it works, I'll make the cab airtight also, and fill that with nitrogen too.

 

OP mentioned bagging all the "critical" components, just fill said bags with nitrogen.

 

Sealing off the intake will keep your air filter clean too

 

LOL. Sealed alternator but still typical easy to flood and kill ECU. Anxiously waiting for the inevitable part out of this one...

 

Just had to ad my 2cents worth.

The Rapid Power alternators were originally designed for Australian Military Trucks in tropical climates. Lots of water and mud. Then, with the advent of the Australian mining boom, they sold a lot to mining companies with underground cars. Again, lots of water and mud, very aggressive acidic water. Most of the trucks used under ground are the 79 series and 200 series, which have their alternators very low in the engine bay. I have a 100 series turbo diesel and the alternator is low in this model as well. If it gets mud and water inside which is very very common. You have to pull them out to clean, yes you can do it insitu but the effect is very minimal. Most people will try and run a solar panel or two, straight to the battery in an emergency before they can get somewhere to fix. You have to remember that Australia is a VERY big county, about the same geographical land mass as the US with 24 million people. So there is a lot of space and not many people. In Western Queensland or northern western Australia, there is massive amounts of water (tropics) no bitumen roads and no towns for thousands of KM.

I have a rapid power alternator and its actually cheaper than you think. Many more people in Australia are putting them in their trucks because of the reliability and the consistent power they put out. During the big wet Nov to April every year, if you live in the country, you can expect to clean your alternator at least twice and then forever suffer voltage drops.

You guys are talking AUS$2000 which is roughly US $1200. You maybe even be able to get a little cheaper than that as they make more of them now. They really are a piece of art. Its saved my arse a couple of times and I've seen many people stuck in the middle of nowhere, underneath their truck which is full of mud, trying to fix an alternator.........not pretty!