Weekend update.... Received the N3225 regulator, and N1225 alternator. Here's the 200A beast:
It's used, it's dusty, the fan shroud is a bit bent up. The regulator is the stock N3135 with a newer date code than the alternator itself, someone's messed with it already. But looks pretty normal for a used alternator to learn on, so I'm perfectly happy with it.
It's huge! I read all the mentions of the 400A alternators and looked at the photos. Those things must be insane.... this 200A is plenty fat. Saw the 60A to 200A conversion kits for sale on fleapay and could not resist getting one. Figure it's worth that in scrap with the copper wire and the 50lbs iron bracket LOL. And yes, I can't belive it's cast iron and that heavy. My 0-60 time will suffer with this install..... And I don't like the v-belt setup, this thing wants a serpentine belt and a 6.5 and ... ok rant off....
It's kinda dusty inside but not bad... I'll keep cleaning and looking at this thing for a bit...
OK more observations... The 60A alternator looks like 1960's tech. It's brushed, and not power dense at all. The 200A is way more modern in design, brushless, and the N3225 regulator even has can-bus! Is that better or worse? Well, the Niehoff is a bit more power dense than the 60A, and Niehoff claims better efficiency. Neither alternator is impressive on power density and efficiency but I'll take an improvement as a good thing. Niehoff happens to be a very friendly company and I like their engineering. Which is more reliable? Well my only experience with the 60A is not a good one so far (it overcharges batteries, not nice). Figure I'd test drive a Niehoff 200A see how it feels.
Strong suspicion, is I will fix up the 60A and the 200A, enjoy learning about both of them, daydream of an N1387 210A to play with. Oh and do my N3225 regulator on N1225 alternator experiment. Then put the 60A back in the truck after swapping the regulator on it haha. Place the 200A and retrofit kit on the shelf for later.
Wondering if I should make a test jig for running these alternators.... be kinda annoying to swap alternators and mounting brackets in and out of the truck...
BTW thanks for all the info here and via PM, awesome to have you guys to bounce all the silly ideas around with.
Thanks,
Alex.