Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 M3W Alternator Output

The heated seat squabs would probably be great in summer but I think they might get a bit lost when the cold sets in properly, but I could be wrong. Interesting about the uprated alternator.
Did get a reply back from S&S - they supply the engines to Morgan without a charging system.

The heated bike clothing considered to be amongst the best is a brand called KEIS - their Vests,socks and gloves all run off a power socket - as in the M3W

There are similar brands as well. I would be sure that this kit would work well in the M3W

IMHO and as a biker - you do not get nearly as cold in the M3 as on a bike. The bodywork really helps to minimise the wind-chill factor - and even the flyscreen plays its part

This time of year I am wearing a cold weather textile jacket and thick bike gloves - both work so well I have hestitated to buy heated kit

hope this helps

Its also possible to buy a tiny car heater which will run off the M3W power socket.Not sure where u would mount this or secure it - but it is an option to explore.

I do not know the brand name/s

I asked if I could have heated seats added to my car when it was built in late September, and was told the same - insufficient current from stator (alternator thingy).

I've also got a single after-nmarket sit-on seat heater which doesn't take as much current and that seems ok ie. voltage doesn't drop too far with it on (using the voltmeter on the dashboard). But it's not very pretty, and I find with my WW2 flying jacket and a few other suitable clothes I stay pretty toasty (so far). Not so good for passengers though who don't have the gear and don't believe what they should be wearing.

No passengers improves the shoulder room and power to weight ratio so is it a problem....???

If the output is not sufficient it really is a poor show from Morgan when they designed the thing. It must have been pretty obvious that a car with no roof and very little weather protection...AND...no heater, would be required to run heated clothing etc. I mean....most touring/adventure motorbikes these days, with smaller engines than the SS, can run two sets of heated jackets, heated grips and heated seats.

There is a big difference between running heated clothing as per a motorbike and heated seats as per luxury tin boxes. Current for the former is reasonable, and the latter is not. Heated seats take a huge amount of current, and it does not surprise me one bit the alternator as fitted to the five speeder is not able to keep pace.

Not at all surprised Morgan don't fit a big enough alternator for heated seats. Indeed, I'd not be surprised if there wasn't a bigger capacity alternator that would fit that engine.

After all, don't forget, after 19 Jan, it's a bike...

I now have a little more information; the alternator is rated at 38A. which of course has to run the injection, ignition and management systems, the lights, charge the battery back up after starting the engine and so on before trying to warm anything up.
As Martyn points bike alternators are different from car type alternators...maybe not internally in how they work but mainly in the sheer physical size that they can be.
When I get some more real info I will pass it on.
At the moment my feeling is that gloves and socks or insoles are no big issue, bigger items like jackets might be pushing it a bit if you've got the lights on and the heat on at full blast. I'm not convinced about heated seats - I think they might be eating up the safety margins.
Passengers just need to grin and bear it!

Early on in my career I was involved with kitting out fairly specialised 110 Land Rovers which had Range Rover running gear before these hit the civvy world. The electronic kit was my thing, I would receive the vehicle with a Dual Voltage Alternator the standardish 12Volt output for the Agricultural section of powering the vehicle. The 24Volt output fed a seperate Battery bank just behind the Bench seat area in a container. The suppresive screening on these vehicles makes the mechanics job a nightmare as so much has to be removed before the dog can see the rabbit.

Having not seen the Alterator arrangements on a Triped I couldn't pass comment on the feasability of this arrangement as a stand alone Auxilliary supply for heating and or other toys. This 24Volt system could be feeding a static Inverter so you could take Hairdryer along to blow up your trouser leg.

The point being once you have a 240 A/C supply on board heating option are virtually limitless and not as specialized as low voltage systems.
And yes I expect it could void the Warranty and cost a little extra but is there a price on comfort for ?

This is a very simple solution and easily handled electrically if these dual voltage Alternators are still on the market and the space is available to fit.

Bet the Land Rover alternators were rated at huge currents.

You don't win anything by having an inverter. While it is true the transmission losses at 240v are less than at 12v or 24v, you have the loss caused by the inverter itself.

There are a good choice of 12v driven inverters these days, so anyone who needs one can stick to a reasonably standard alternator and stand a chance the man with a van can find one if you break down.

Plenty of recommendations on this site for heated clothes.

I understood the problem to be the standard fit from MMC was a little wimpy and unable to power any auxilliaries let alone an inverter with subsequent losses.

The dual systems were more than adequate for the job as you intimate.

As in all things Morgan a uniquely answer will emerge in the fullness of time and will probably involve stone hot water bottles - I don't feel the cold at all so "12Volt pants" are not on my Christmas list for wintery drives over Dartmoor .