Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site trsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!trsvax!mikey From: mikey@trsvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Alternators Message-ID: <55200141@trsvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Feb-85 10:14:00 EST Article-I.D.: trsvax.55200141 Posted: Wed Feb 6 10:14:00 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 06:32:42 EST References: <776@sdcsla.UUCP> Lines: 18 Nf-ID: #R:sdcsla:-77600:trsvax:55200141:000:906 Nf-From: trsvax!mikey Feb 6 09:14:00 1985 Most non-solid state regulators keep a small charge to the battery under most conditions and kick to a high charge under certain conditions. The problem with cutting out your alternator for highway cruising is that it can ruin your battery, unless you have a "marine" battery, or also called a deep cycle battery. Regular lead-acid car batteries can be damaged it they are discharged past a certain point and left there with even a small load. Putting an extra switch under the gas pedal to cut out he AC and alternator is a great idea for short burst of ultimate go power, but I would not recommend that you run just the battery for a cruise. Best idea is to replace the alternator and regulator with the new solid state designs that have a variable field regulator. Then the alternator only puts out whats needed to run the car plus a SMALL extra kick to keep the battery up. mikey at trsvax