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Originally Posted by twinmill28
What? The alternator is turning harder?
The alternator load on the engine will be the same regardless of adding accessories that draw more power,.
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Ok...Dont get pissed off at me, but in my opinion your wrong.
I wish you were correct as this completely violates multiple laws of energy. You would be rich man...if we could sell this
Your alternator will basically free spin when there is no load on it (it still will want to stop at a point). As your amp load increases, the power required to turn the alternator also increases. An alternator is just an electromagnet. The faster you spin it, the more power it puts out (disreguard the regulator and other bs for now). An electric motor is almost the same exact thing, but the process is reversed. The magnetic fields inside this amazing device are what creates this power, or movement if were talking about an electric motor. As the amp load increases the magnetic fields buld up and collapse. These magnetic forces inside the alt are trying to oppose this rotational movement. My AC/DC instructor liked to describe this like a magnetic compass needle always returning to North/South. The magnetic opposition strength increases as the amp load of the alternator increases (this is the load I'm talking about).
These guys w/ monster stereos that put multiple alts on their rigs 1) for more power, but 2) the friction force on the pulley only allows so much torque. At the super high draws they will lock up or severly slip on the belt. Solution- stay under the slip rating by adding an additional alt. You will strill drag the motor down, but not slip on the belt.
We had an ambulanse in autoshop the same week we were covering principles of electricity. This was one of the best examples as there is no free electricity. W/ the engine running, when all lights and accessories were turned on. The load was so high, it dragged the motor down to almost dying at idle, and any throttle above that just completely smoked the drive belt. They ended up putting two alternators on it, and bumping the idle up a tad.
If you took the pulley off a good sized alt and put a power drill on it, then engage a high load. The drill will either come to a stop, or the drills torque will snap your wrist off.