Upgrade to high-output smart alternator for lithium battery camper

I have a 2024 tacoma, 6-cyl, with truck camper, and pull a small trailer. My "house" battery packs total 600 Amps LiFePO4, are currently solar and generator charged. I want to ditch the generator and go with alternator charging. What smart, high-output alternator should I replace the stock alternator with? I calculate I need at least 200 to 250 amps.

 

How did you come up with that number? Did you include your DC -DC charge controller capability? I run Renogy gear and the biggest DC-DC they sell is 60 Amp total which equates to 30 Amp each for the solar and alternator inputs. Have you totaled up all of the tings you intend to run at once? Assuming flat batteries (which is not where you ever really want to be) that would basically be you maximum load.

 

Alternator charging will never replace generator/solar power unless you are driving for several hours per day.

As for 200-250 amps, is that the power you want to supply the trailer, or is that for the truck + trailer?


And back the truck up:

A 2024 with a 6 cylinder? I thought they only came with a Turbo-4?

 

Technically, most DC-DC chargers can be stacked indefinitely. Pretty sure the Victron, including their 50 amp, says there is no limit to stacking them beyond your power source and what you're charging.

 

I don’t think it’s about the load on the batteries as much as the preferred charge rate and profile for lifepo. At least .1C but not more than .2C(regardless of how full or empty they are and subject to the charge controllers actual output). So the alternator needs to be able to supply an additional 60-120A on top of the truck’s consumption. 250A seems high but not by much and you don’t want to burn it out by using one that’s inadequate. You might look into RV equipment.

 

Agreed, but that is a stack of controllers.... Me thinks the OP use case needs refinement...

 

He’s asking about the supply though, not the charge controller(s). The stock alternator can supply the truck or the house batteries, not both simultaneously.

 

It could supply both, just not as much as he'd like by the sounds of it. It should be able to supply 30 or so amps safely, assuming similar capacity to the 3rd gen/2nd gen with tow package.

 

.1c is conservative for most batteries. .2c is recommended for many for maximum lifespan, but you can chuck in 1c if you don’t care
.3c is roughly what he is asking for, and that’s fiiiine
High output alternators for earlier gens generally put out 250-270 peak, 200 idle, so doing a couple of chargers, even some linked to ignition on and others to ignition on and not in park, should be ok

I’m not sure anyone is listing a HO 2024 alternator yet tho