Jamie
Member
Registered: 1st Apr 02
Location: Aberdeen
User status: Offline
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quote:
2-4% extra car power, for free
Disconnect the altenator when it is not necessary
A road-car's battery is constantly topped up by a device connected to the engine called an 'Alternator'. Basically transfers movement within your engine to electrical power in the battery. This costs you about 2-4% of your total engine power. On current cars it is always connected. Your car is constantly recharging or trying the recharge the battery no matter what its state, even if it's full.
When the engine is on, the alternator charges the battery FASTER then your car can use that power.
My idea is simple. A small electronic sensor and motor, that disconnects the alternator when the battery is 90% full or more, and doesn't reconnect until it's down to 30% .
Enjoy the 2-4% extra power as you drive for a while (a few hours) .. It's costing you no extra petrol .. its free. Your battery will be 100% fine without being recharged for a while. The car will feel like its got an extra 40BHP, without drinking more petrol! (trust me!). This power constantly drained by the alternator is precisely why formula 1 cars do not have them!
I honestly have no idea why the alternator is currently connected 100% of the time .. probably cheaper manufacturing or some lame excuse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
britboy, Feb 23 2004
More here...
[Edited on 01-04-2004 by J-Me]
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vibrio
Banned
Registered: 28th Feb 01
Location: POAH
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I susepct that you could not drive your car for more than say 30mins without the alternator attached 
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Jamie
Member
Registered: 1st Apr 02
Location: Aberdeen
User status: Offline
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Not sure on the 2-4% = 40bhp either
Muppet.
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Nick-S
Member
Registered: 3rd Mar 04
Location: Leigh. Drives: RS Megane 230 F1 Team R26
User status: Offline
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2-4%=40bhp how powerfull is ur car
I suspect this is sum sort of sick april fool joke
nice try
this is 1 mod i wont b doin
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Patrick
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Registered: 25th Apr 02
Location: SE London
User status: Offline
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What a muppet
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Jamie
Member
Registered: 1st Apr 02
Location: Aberdeen
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by GSi_16v
I suspect this is sum sort of sick april fool joke
nice try
quote:
britboy, Feb 23 2004
It was posted over a month ago 
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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The battery would just go dead straight away due to the fact its got to power so much, lights, engine managment, injectors, dash board, electric windows, PAS, ABS.
What a cock.
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Nick-S
Member
Registered: 3rd Mar 04
Location: Leigh. Drives: RS Megane 230 F1 Team R26
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by J-Me
quote:
Originally posted by GSi_16v
I suspect this is sum sort of sick april fool joke
nice try
quote:
britboy, Feb 23 2004
It was posted over a month ago
oops sory dint c that bit my bad
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Jodi_the_g
Member
Registered: 7th Aug 01
Location: Washington D.C
User status: Offline
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No it is true on my grass track mini I discounnted the altenator as you do get an increase in power, yet my car had no lights dials extra and I did have to charge it after a days racing, well about an 1 hour max driving time
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nick_bmth
Member
Registered: 3rd Jul 01
User status: Offline
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Well I can say I actually tried it by accident. My car went into a garage, they forgot to reconnect the alternator and after 2 days it eventually died on me. And yes there is a very noticable difference in power. I was annoyed that I would have to lose the extra speed when they rectified the problem lol
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nick_bmth
Member
Registered: 3rd Jul 01
User status: Offline
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I cant see how they figure 2-4% equals 40bhp tho unless the car they started with was 1000bhp lol
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Red_SXi
Member
Registered: 23rd Sep 02
Location: Dunstable Drives: 52 Plate BMW 3 M Sport Coupe
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It would be good until you need to use your main beam lights to flash someone or something
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Tim
Site Administrator
Registered: 21st Apr 00
User status: Offline
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Why does everyone find this so funny? The battery can supply the car at full power for at least 30 mins (with everything on)...
MBE ECU's have a feature to do this... It's usually triggered by full-throttle being opened...
Only thing that is disputable is 40bhp, but the percentages sound about right...
[Edited on 01-04-2004 by Tim]
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Andy
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Registered: 28th Dec 99
Location: Cumbria, UK
User status: Offline
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I tried one of these things ages ago (called 'AlterPower'). It disconnects the alternator with an electronic switch, but only under full throttle - the rest of the time, the battey is charged as normal. The idea being that it's only at full throttle you want the extra power. Fine in theory, but I installed one during a RR session, where we got a DROP in peak power and torque. Apparently my ECU didn't like it Sent it back and got a refund
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ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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Ok, an extra 40bhp would actuall be a 90-100% power hike for me. Might have to test it out!!!
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Recaro1
Member
Registered: 25th Mar 02
User status: Offline
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this is true to an extent, my mate had a 1.2 nova and the alternator broke. It didnt charge.
My mate in his 1.4 corsa which normally thrashes his nova couldnt keep up with him.
There was a product that disconnected the alternator when you hit 3K revs.
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Rob H
Member
Registered: 28th Oct 00
Location: Staffordshire Drives: Astra SRi
User status: Offline
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Suppose its down to the draw off the battery from the ECU/Injectors/Coilpack and the condition of the battery.
Either way, over time the longer the battery is left un-charged, the less power you'll get, as you'll be running at a lower and lower voltage.
On something like a carb engine, i could imagine this to be much more benifical than an engine that's got an ecu etc.
IIRC, Batterys will only give off 12V max, whereas when your car's running, the alternator usually runs at 14.4V, and it stands a chance alot of Engines could actually depend on the extra 2.4V.
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