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Old 08-21-2008, 06:55 PM   #13 (permalink)
orange4boy
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The Wet Coast, Kanuckistan.
Posts: 1,275

The Golden Egg - '93 Toyota Previa DX
90 day: 31.91 mpg (US)

Chewie - '03 Toyota Prius
90 day: 57 mpg (US)

The Spaceship - '00 Honda Insight
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I'm running two Deep cycles and just drove from Vancouver to Seattle in my Previa. Batts were at 60% DOD when I got there. This included about twenty starts in the border line up (45 minutes of idling saved) They are used series 27 batteries @ $50 ea. from a local shop.

Another thing to remember is that your alternator is also charging your battery. It has to recharge each time you start and trickle charges constantly. I have never seen a battery take less than 3 amps after sitting overnight and it would be much more after you just pulled 400-500 amps to get it going. All this at a time when engine is cold and running rich.

Now that my Previa is alternator free it starts easier , has more pep and revs quicker. Not to mention getting 26 mpg highway (20mpg EPA)

Read what the experts have to say about alternator loads:

IEEE Spectrum: Automotive Electrical Systems Circa 2005

Cut that gas hog out of there.

P.S. Guess who was instrumental in getting DRLs into cars? (Hint: EV killers)

G.M. *******s.
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Vortex generators are old tech. My new and improved vortex alternators are unstoppable.

"It’s easy to explain how rockets work but explaining the aerodynamics of a wing takes a rocket scientist.


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