Quote:
Originally Posted by steffen707
So are you saying that if you disconnect the alternator output from the battery, the alternator will see no electrical load, and therefor exert little to no mechanical load on the engine?
Is it safe (for the alternator) to have the alternator output wire disconnected as long as it doesn't touch anything to cause a fire or short circuit?
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I'm sure of it, on both points. I'd do a pretty thorough job of taping protecting the disconnected end of the alt's original + output wire, as the other end is connected directly to the battery + wire, at the starter motor.
I also keep the alt's 4-pin connector detached from the alt. I do that because
- We're pretty sure it delivers some signals from the computer to the alt. With the alt disabled, that current now comes from our deep cycle battery, which we want to discharge as slowly as possible. (and)
- We haven't completely figured out how that circuit works but its certainly possible that at least SOME of those wires deliver current from alt to computer. So that power will have to be generated by the alt, or possibly by the deep cycle battery, and we don't want either to be happening; it's a waste of the energy we're trying to conserve.