100 Amp Alternator

[ScottyIrwin]

Not really. The regulator controls alternator output based on the signal it gets from the battery. If the battery is deeply discharged, or you have alot of load (lights, refer, inverter) the alternator will put out more power to charge the battery. The regulator has no idea if you need engine power for some other task. Thats why I put the switch in on the signal wire, like a NOS button. I could turn off the alternator if I needed the extra hp of the engine.

This brings up a basic law of physics, the law of conservation of energy. The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another or transferred from one body to another, but the total amount of energy remains constant (the same). Factor into that efficiency and we have an actual loss of energy in the conversion process, in this case it is mostly heat which is why it was recommended to use a larger fan if possible.

In school who said you'll never use this stuff again?:dance:

 

[MoonSailer]

Two smaller alternators??? I read an article advocating to smaller alternators instead of one larger alternator. The logic was that one alternator could be taken off line under normal conditions and both used when a lot of charging was required. Also you would have a backup if one failed. I think the article was by Don Casey. I have an Autozone self exciting self regulating alternator that has worked well for me for the last 4 years. It cost about $40.

 

[Don12364]

Ross,
Quite a bit of the losses were in the cooling fan, the internal whirling of the machine at 12,000 rpm and the drive belt. The remainder was machine inefficiency and imperfections in the regulator's ability to properly control..