RE: 120A alternator: hp drain?

["Julie Macfarlane" <juliemac@telenet.net>]

Good gosh, this has made me think...-
The alternator will only supply power on demand. When the current drain on
the battery equalises, the drain on the alt diminishes.(Watch your amp meter
as you start the car. It will lean toward the - or discharge side when
cranking, then lean toward the + or charge side, when started.
	Add up all the power ratings for lights, etc and do a balancing act. Do the
extra lights add enough benefit to draw the 2.57 HP from your system?

Here's some math for you..
Power=voltage*current. Therefore:
 a 16v alternetor @ 90a (full load) generates 1440w of electrical power.
 a 16v alternetor @ 120a (full load) generates 1920w of electrical power.

There are 746 electrical Watts to the horse power. Therefore:
1440w/746(w/hp)=1.93 horse power
1920w/746(w/hp)=2.57 horse power

Have fun, be safe.

Julie
'81 Scirocco
'85 Jetta

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org
[mailto:owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of Scott Williams
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 9:06 PM
To: vw-tech; scirocco list
Subject: 120A alternator: hp drain?


Guys, I'm interested in purchasing a 120A alternator for the Warpiggy.
You know -mega watt rally driving lights and stuff. Anyway, will this
heavier duty unit sap more horsepower than the 90A unit that I've got in
there right now -sometimes/ always? When it is outputting the higher
amperage it should eat up more power, but how about when it is at 90A or
below? Or do these things go "full on" and off somehow?

Gee, I don't know the first thing about these things. Hrrrumph...
--
Scott F. Williams
NJ Scirocco nut
SCCA ProRally driver
Hotrod Rabbit GTi

Check out our rally team's website!
http://www.usrallyteam.com



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