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Originally Posted by akarmy
I have a B&C starter (and alternator) and they have worked flawlessly for 400 hours.
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Yes, great stuff, good quality. They take a stock ND alternator, take the internal regulator out and "balance the fan" or something like that. For that you are looking at well over $800 for alternator and regulator. I think the product is good, it is the price that is crazy.
You can buy a new stock ND alternator for less than $ 100 (if you can buy wholesale, if not closer to $200). You can add the brackets and misc brackets and nut and bolts for another $60. For $160-$250 you can have a good reliable alternator. The problem I have is the sales hype and sensationalized "It is a dark and stormy night and your alternator dies, ....our B&C will not let you down like others."
Well I feel if your product is good and priced right the market will buy it. They make claims of superior reliability, which is not proven or supported. For example the reliability of stock ND alternators, before B&C modifies them, is excellent. It's the product it's the sales approach. For example they claim to balance their alternator for improved reliability. The stock ones must be balanced pretty well because they are very reliable out the box. Heck these ND alternators live in Luxury 30-80 thousand dollar car's with very expensive electronics. I don't think the consumer would put up with poor quality. Consumer reports show the alternator is not a problem, at least in cars.
Look there are literally MILLIONS of stock ND alternators in cars, trucks and industrial equipment. They are going 24/ 7 and have a great reputation for reliability. The Highway safety foundation tracks problems with vehicles on US roads, including electrical problems. The ND alternator has no reported problems, which is not true of many other makes of alternators, which have been featured in recalls and electrical fires. As well there are 100's if not thousands of stock ND alternators in kit planes, some with 800-2000 hours in service with no problems and continued reliability. Not that there has been no failures, but they tend to be rebuilt ND alternators. B&C alternators & regulators have had problems also. Nothing is perfect, thus my displeasure with B&C implying their alternator is a quantum leap in reliability. I have two cars with ND alternators. One went 212,000 miles over about 12 years, than it died. That is about 4000 plus hours assuming 53 mph avg over the 212,000 miles. It was way more hours than that, but lets assume it would get only 1/2 that, 2000 hours in a plane. That is pretty good. My RV- 4 had about 600 trouble free hours with a ND with out problem before I sold it, and it was still going strong. Remember your B&C is really just a ND alternator. It has the same wear items. That is all. If you have the better part of $900 than I would buy a B&C alternator (but I would get a $60 electronic regulator not the $200 plus B&C). If you are on a budget get a stock ND alternator with an internal VR for a 4th the money.
Cheers George
Linear Mode
