Quote: Originally posted by craig20102010 on 11 July 2005
Quote: Originally posted by McBunny on 11 July 2005Alternators: As we said on the charging system basics page, the alternator supplies all of the power to all of the electrical accessories (amplifiers, lights, power windows, power seats...) as long as the engine is running. Upgrading the alternator is generally the most cost effective way to add more performance to your system. In the next few paragraphs Ill attempt to explain why other remedies may not solve your problem and may even make it worse.
Many people want to know when they should replace their alternator. The short answer is... when it fails. If you just want the battery to remain charged and your present alternator is keeping it charged, its doing its job. If you want a system to be as close to perfect as possible and money is no object, replace your alternator when you install the amplifiers.
Extra batteries: Extra batteries are great if you want to listen to your system with the engine off. While the alternator is charging, the extra batteries will only draw current which could otherwise be going to your amplifiers. For proof, all you have to do is measure the voltage while the engine is running. It should be approximately 13.5-14.4 volts DC. Then turn the engine off and measure the battery voltage again. Now itll be around 12-12.5 volts. Whenever the voltage at the battery is up around 14 volts, there is current flowing into the battery.
One Farad capacitors: Large, one Farad, capacitors only help to maintain the charging voltage for a tiny fraction of a second under high current demand situations. They do a fine job of filling small dips in voltage and may help reduce your lights from dimming but they wont really solve your current supply problems if your alternator cant keep up.
NOTE: Capacitors DO NOT increase the charging systems voltage. [/QUOTE]Its only a small engine putting a bigger alternator in the car is more stress on the engine and also really crap petrol consumption as well. The Capacitor will Smooth the current supply out because at the moment the first beat is powerful but then after that the rest of the beats are not. if something is there to give a constant burst of power everytime while the charge is still goin into the battery then it will draw its power from the capacitor. If you buy a good capacitor it will be able to hold its charge for more seconds. the equation is something like time X current. the amount of time you want the beat to last say 3 seconds by the amount of current it will be taking at the most about 40 amps i would say. Its something like that im still awaiting the papers on it. capacitors Charge instantly and discharge almost instantly depending on how long of a time the capacitor can supply the power thats why you buy the better brands i need to ave a look on google or sommet to get the equation.
lol the alternator does not put more stress on the engine they take the same amount of grunt from the belt to get them to move
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