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Alternator clutch
I was thinking about the mpg benefit (up to 10%) from deleting the alternator, but with the risk that you drain the battery on an extended journey.
But thinking about how the air conditioning is switched in using a clutch, could the same be done with an alternator?
With this set up, while driving, the alternator pulley would spin with the belt, offering minimal resistance until a sensor detected the battery falling below a set voltage (say 12V). The sensor would then engage the A/C-like clutch to spin the alternator until the battery returned to a set voltage (say 13.5V), and then disengage once more.
Has anyone done this? What do you think - worth a try?
Brian
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