ARCO Alternator + Regulator Kits

Our custom plug-and-play harness replaces all existing wiring, giving you peace of mind that your entire alternator charging system is high quality and correctly installed. By eliminating the unknowns and potential faults that come with re-using old wiring, we ensure every part of your system meets the same high standard—so you get the most reliable, high-performing alternator charging experience possible.

Installation is now available at RoamRig HQ and at select RoamRig installers who are familiar with RoamRig power systems and alternators. Visit our Dealer Locator and filter to ARCO Alternator Kits to see our current list of approved installers. Installers set their own labor rates, please contact them for a quote.

The full 2 year warranty on the alternator, regulator, and system will require installation by specific certified RoamRig dealers. Not all RoamRig dealers may carry or install these products. We are deliberate with which dealers will have this available to help ensure the system is installed correctly and performs well.

If you have a van with the infamous Balmar 170A alternator, you can upgrade to avoid alternator failure which results in no charge output, or worse (smoke, thermal issues, etc).

If you have a different alternator that is not working, or it's working but you'd like something newer with a 2 year warranty, you might consider an upgrade.

If you already have an upgraded alternator in your van, there may not be a reason to change your alternator. However adding a RoamRig ARCO Regulator kit can increase the performance and reliability of your existing alternator system.

Some things are best described with a whiteboard and a video.

If you have a Balmar external regulator, they work very well for most applications. We love Balmar regulators for their simplicity.

Balmar alternator regulators lack advanced functions that ARCO Zeus regulators have. These features (like controlling output based on RPM and limiting output intelligently based on measured current and programmed current limits) are becoming very important with newer electrical systems. These advanced functions offer significant performance advantages over a Balmar regulator.

For example, if you have a Balmar 250A alternator installed in a van with a power system that has a maximum current limit below 250A, you must program the Balmar regulator to decrease output across the entire operating range of the alternator, which effectively makes the alternator behave like a less powerful one. With ARCO intelligent current limitations, the alternator will have peak output where possible, and will only be limited in output when the charge rate at the battery exceeds a programmed limit.

Additionally, if you have a load on your electrical system or are charging via an additional source like solar, DC-DC converter, or shore power, a Balmar regulator is unaware of this and unable to compensate. By actively monitoring current and controlling output, the ARCO Zeus regulator is able to compensate for loads on the system, or additional charge sources.

For newer 4cyl Sprinters, it is very important that the alternator does not charge at idle, per Mercedes requirements. The ARCO Zeus regulator can monitor engine RPM and control output in a pre-programmed manner to eliminate alternator load at idle. Balmar regulators are unable to do this.

Balmar regulators do not natively have an app that can be used to monitor or control them. ARCO Zeus regulators can be monitored and controlled via the ARCO Zeus app. Want to know what your alternator is currently doing? Check the ARCO Zeus app. Want to pause charging while you're climbing a steep grade at high altitude, when power is limited? You can easily do this from the cab via the ARCO Zeus app. Do you have a question about your alternator, or an issue with charging? You can easily share screenshots from your ARCO Zeus app, and access data logs that can be sent to a technician for analysis.

ARCO Zeus regulators take alternator charging to the next level with precise control, advanced features, and an app that allows user control and monitoring. Lastly, our kits include more than just a regulator — they include a regulator pre-programmed and configured specifically for each application, along with bespoke plug-and-play harnesses, and other hardware necessary for a seamless installation and reliable performance.

If you intend to regularly charge at low idle, it's important to have a Litens pulley so the belt drive is as stable as possible. This is most common on 6 cylinder vans with 12V alternators, which is why our kits for 6 cylinder vans with 12V alternators feature a Litens pulley.

Without getting into the nitty gritty physics, if your alternator is not loaded at idle, a more common Zen brand OAP style pulley is just fine. On 4 cylinder vans, which Mercedes explicitly says are not allowed to charge at idle, an OAP pulley is fine. On 48V systems, which do not charge at low idle and only start to charge just above idle, an OAP pulley is fine.

Litens pulleys add significant expense, so we only use them when absolutely necessary. If you're interested in a Litens pulley for a van with a 4 cylinder engine, one can be added at an extra cost.

ALL 2nd and 3rd generation RoamRig power systems use a Balmar 250A alternator with Balmar regulator (which can be upgraded to an ARCO Regulator with full functionality, including RPM sensing). Since early 2022, all 1st Generation RoamRig power systems with a 2nd alternator have used a Balmar 250A alternator with Balmar regulator, too.

Earlier 1st Generation RoamRig power systems used a Nations alternator with Balmar regulator, which can be upgraded with an ARCO Zeus regulator, but cannot have RPM sensing. We have records for every system that's been installed, so reach out if you have any questions!

We will be phasing ARCO Zeus regulators and alternators into all new power system installations. Power system prices will increase with this change.

There are very few direct drop in alternators for Volta power systems. Volta regulators require a 48V alternator with a 12V field. Many 48V alternators use a 48V field, which would require a different regulator.

There are few complete bespoke solutions for alternators in Volta power systems. We are aware of one other bespoke solution for Volta power systems. However, it may only work for the newest CAN enabled battery packs from Volta, whereas RoamRig's ARCO based solutions work for all Volta battery packs.

Yes! We've worked hand-in-hand with FreedomVanGo to leverage their Ekko expertise and our ARCO expertise to develop a kit offered exclusively through them for Sprinter-based Winnebago Ekkos. If you're interested in one of these kits for installation in your Sprinter-based Ekko, please reach out to FreedomVanGo.