Dynamo To Alternator Changepoint

[111Robin]

Can anyone advise when the changeover from dynamo to alternator occurred ?. Mine is late 68 build and any BMC car I have had from this period was still running a dynamo.

[mark030358]

don't think there was one. My 73 Sprint has a dynamo...

No doubt I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

cheers

[111Robin]

Thanks, you could very well be correct. Mine has a bodge fitted alternator and I will be returning it to dynamo.

[RichardHawkins]

I don’t know if there was a change point, but my workshop manual describes how fit one. Perhaps this was a period factory approved modification. You could fit a dynamater, which is an alternator that looks like Dynamo.

Hope this helps,

Richard Hawkins

[111Robin]

I would prefer a standard dynamo, never had any issues with any of my BMC cars running a dynamo so would prefer to return it to OEM if it is indeed correct.

[USA64]

My S4 1969 Federal has a generator. I will be changing to an alternator when I get that far. A generator may be simpler but it's not lighter!

[alan.barker]

Still running Dynamo on my 1972 Sprint no problems but if it was a +2 i would fit an Alternator (more electrics on a +2).
Alan
ps. i think the change point was in 1972

[TBG]

The changepoint on my S3 came when sitting in a traffic jam in Italy with temperatures in the high 30s with my foot on the throttle to keep the water moving and the heater full on! No more - lightweight alternator, twin fans and an alloy radiator. D

[sprintsoft]

The Elan, and the +2, workshp manuals both show the 17 ACR alternator, how its fitted and how to service it.

Page 64: "..the alternator can be fitted as an accessory..."

[draenog]

I had assumed the +2 changed from dynamo to alternator sometime in 1970, and this was marked by the change from an ammeter gauge to a voltmeter (battery condition). This appears to be confirmed by a report in MotorSport that says "For the 1970 Motor Show further improvements included an alternator, a revised cooling system, a Philips radio and a revised and far better silencer." But who knows...

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-1971/28/lotus-elan-2s

[draenog]

The production timeline below gives the changepoint to a battery condition gauge:

https://type50.com/?The_Technical_Pages___Timeline

70.02....218 battery condition gauge introduced to non Federal cars