I was wondering if any of you guys have ever upgraded your stock alternator for you JK, to a higher output type. If so, does the computer have to be re-programmed. Thanks

 

Unless your putting some mall crawler 24" speakers and a million watts of amp in there the stock 190 AMP output alternator is more than adequate for just about anything off road related.

I run a 10,000 lb winch, air compressor, 1400 watt power inverter, electric fridge, 100 watt off road lights, 4x Rockford Fosgate 6" Punch speakers, CB, GPS, laptop and misc rechargable devices all the time.
I've never dimmed my lights or dropped my running output below 14.4V on the stock alt/battery.

 

The stock alternator should meet most needs

 

Hmm... Thought is was 160 amps, (180 amps for the diesel).

 

There was some discussion a while back about whether Jeep continued with that large of an alternator for later years of the JK. Anyone know for certain if that is/is not the case?

 

the larger alternator was dropped in 08. went from the 190 down to the 160. I'm sure that reprogramming would be required to run an 07 alternator as the comp will see the system producing too high of amperage

 

If the stock alternator will supply more than enough to cover so many things at once, does anyone have any idea as to why my lights dim so much? Only thing I have going are fog lights, a 1000W amp and a 600W amp.

 

Those ratings are what it pushes to the speakers, but what does it draw from the electrical system to do that?

 

The alternator won't produce any more amperage than is being drawn from it.
The factory service manual says the current limiter is in the alternator. It's kind of vague on that point, though.
The voltage regulator is in the PCM. That has a programmed voltage value.
If the current limiter is actually in the alternator, it is not externally controlled, and no flash would be needed. (Just my thoughts. No way to verify that.)

 

Add a stiffening capacitor for your system... the bigger the better.