Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Test: Alternator vs. no alternator = 10% MPG gain @ 70 km/h

brucepick · 10-10-2012, 09:15 PM

Dipstick was right when he said
1) Don't recharge the battery via the alternator.
2) Use deep cycle batteries.

I would add, based on my experience running with alternator switched off since March 2012:
I have one Walmart marine deep cycle Group 29 lead acid and one 40AH LiFePO4 lithium. Both work well.

The lead acid runs headlights and starter. Lithium pack runs the rest. Each has a range of 3 to 3.5 hours. If headlights not needed total range is about six or seven hours.

Alternator belt is still in place. Alt's charging cable is connected via a battery disconnect switch. So for a truly long road trip I only need to activate that switch.

10-10-2012, 09:15 PM	#242 (permalink)
brucepick OCD Master EcoModder Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern CT, USA Posts: 1,936 Outasight - '00 Honda Insight Team Honda Gen-1 Insights 90 day: 54.18 mpg (US) Thanks: 431 Thanked 396 Times in 264 Posts	Dipstick was right when he said 1) Don't recharge the battery via the alternator. 2) Use deep cycle batteries. I would add, based on my experience running with alternator switched off since March 2012: I have one Walmart marine deep cycle Group 29 lead acid and one 40AH LiFePO4 lithium. Both work well. The lead acid runs headlights and starter. Lithium pack runs the rest. Each has a range of 3 to 3.5 hours. If headlights not needed total range is about six or seven hours. Alternator belt is still in place. Alt's charging cable is connected via a battery disconnect switch. So for a truly long road trip I only need to activate that switch. __________________ Coast long and prosper. Driving '00 Honda Insight, acquired Feb 2016.