Dual alternators?

[V509]

Proud new owner of a 3010 diesel which appears to have been made in 1961. It has a loader on it and was restored 10+ years ago.

My question is, someone has added a second alternator to it. The loader would have absolutely no extra draw on it. Was this a common addition and what purpose did it serve obviously charging batteries, faster but beyond that.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

24 volt system? Using one 12v alternator for each 12 volt battery?

 

[Scott 730]

Pictures??

 

[buickanddeere]

24 volt system? Using one 12v alternator for each 12 volt battery?

if still -12V & +12volt 24V . one of the alternators would be a rare positive chassis/ground alternator

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Picture would be really cool never seen that before. I’ve seen dual alternators on modern stuff they are 12 volt essentially charging the same batteries together. While it works for high amp requirements instead of a big alternator honestly they seem to go out just as frequently if not more and often by the time the customer calls both need replaced.

Oddly enough the smaller terragators had 2 the big ones had one bigger alternator totaling less amps but I wondered if the dual was more a reliability attempt that failed. I believe alternator trouble was the most frequent failure in the small 6 cylinder. I think reliability would have improved with 2 big ones then you could have lost one and kept the rig running. The big agco 7 cylinders didn’t run long enough to need to replace an alternator. Or change the oil.