Quote:
Originally Posted by dipstick
OK, item number one... stop disabling your stock alternators and then re-enabling them to charge depleted batteries... modern alternators are not engineered for the high temperatures resulting from extended high output charging periods. If you are not careful you will burn them up faster, and negate fuel savings with repair costs.
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I posted on a few of these alt disable threads recomending the use of a charge limiting resistor like I have.
I run LiFePO4 starting batteries on my diesel. Just glow plugging, cranking to then charging the batteries with unlimited alt power puts a full load on the alternator for the few minutes or so after starting (before I had the resistor). No matter how tight the belt is it would always squeek.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dipstick
Also regular auto batteries cannot handle the deep discharge and recharge cycles you are putting them through... you ARE destroying them which again costs you the money you were hoping to save by doing all this stuff in the first place.
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A few people tested their alt delete/disable with starting batteries but the fully committed are running deep cycle AGM or lithium ion boosted electrical systems. I posted that starting batteries only like about a 20% depth of discharge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dipstick
Also, the recharge required to replace the lost electricity requires just as much energy as it would otherwise so you are saving at most 2-3% maybe, due to the regular friction losses of the bearings and belt on pulley from regular driving.
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That is what we have found with the alt still turning.
Most of the alt disable guys charge their battery with external power and retain use of the alt so they don't end up with a range limit like an electric car.
The guys with small cars running the alt with the belt off or the full alt delete see almost 10%.
I also encourage the use of LEDs to entend battery life and "alt off" time.
With LiFePO4 batteries I cant run an alt disable or delete because of my large electrical draw and small reserve capacity starting batteries.
I do like helping those who can run an alt delete or disable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dipstick
Install professional heavy duty quick disconnects like they use on forklifts, to make connecting and disconnecting more expedient and safe.
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That is what I did with my LiFePO4 install.
This way I can quickly remove the batteries if the truck is parked or if my car needs its battery back.
(my suburban also uses my cars LiFePO4 battery in addtion to its own LiFePO4 battery)