Removing the alternator
Discussion
The Blue book allows the alternator to be removed for speed events. I would guess that the only tangible benefit is weight loss, as presumably if the battery is not flat the loading on the engine is fairly light. If there is load then perhaps simply un plugging it would be a good compromise. Does anybody have thoughts or practical experience on this ? Like is there an off the shelf belt that will drive the water pump on a serpentine engine without the alternator ?
I'm tempted to say don't be so silly, but you ... oh what the heck, don't be so silly! Have you worked out the equivalent power loss from the drag and weight of the alternator? Would you leave it off permanently, or keep taking it on and off? Both approaches seem pretty inconvenient!
Check your local regs as these will supercede the blue book.
Disconecting the alternator is not a good idea s the battery will flatten especially if it is wet with lights and wipers and fans etc on.
Also alternators do not like being driven with no load. They tend to die very quickly.
Disconecting the alternator is not a good idea s the battery will flatten especially if it is wet with lights and wipers and fans etc on.
Also alternators do not like being driven with no load. They tend to die very quickly.
Some ancient touring car or the like (think it was an Anglia) used to have a switch which would disengage the alternator output on full throttle. Full throttle is the only bit that matters anyway (otherwise it's about fuel consumption) and you get to keep your alternator for 99% of the time.
griffter said:
Some ancient touring car or the like (think it was an Anglia) used to have a switch which would disengage the alternator output on full throttle. Full throttle is the only bit that matters anyway (otherwise it's about fuel consumption) and you get to keep your alternator for 99% of the time.
Ford Anglia... I think that was in the dynamo era where you could switch it off... Mind you the early ones had the wipers operated by the engine vacuum.
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