Do Alternators Change in Engine Load?

[dcb]

So you accept the 6.9 million figure then?

[MazdaMatt]

Make it any figure upwards of 500 dollars and its probably still worth it.

[dcb]

Ok, now tell me the cost of implementing every safety related idea that was ever conceived on every vehicle, since you have not defined an upper limit on the value.

[dann_04]

I think we have strayed a bit from the topic...but quick question aside from the value of a life, on older cars they used generators which always make voltage no matter what speed they are spinning, unlike the alternatoer which has a cut in speed. So would a generator vary the load on an engine depending on the watts used? and if not is that a viable option to swap out a generator for an alternator? Seems like a better choice than some of the people who are dropping the alternator all together. I dunno, discuss.

[MazdaMatt]

Yes, i understand that if you wanted to prevent 100% of automobile related injury/death, you could wrap your car in a billion dollars of safety gear and its not worth it. However, something so simple as leaving your drl's on is cost effective enough for the slim likely hood of running someone down. Think "law of diminishing returns" on this one. The savings in fuel for a hundred people turning off their DRLs could be acheived by one person scrapping their H2 and buying a metro (massivly conservative estimate).

[dcb]

Can we TRY to be a little more respectful guys? BDC, if you have some actual data you would like to share then please do so. I don't like putting people on auto-ignore in case they actually say something decent, but it's an option: http://ecomodder.com/forum/profile.php?do=ignorelist

[justpassntime]

Lights don't save lives, just ask a moth or a deer!

What about the DRLs that come on at night and with no taillights and people think they have their lights on? How many accidents do you think this has caused?

Oh, back to the original question.....try idling your car at night and turn your headlights on and one at a time turn on all your accessories and watch the headlights dim and the engine noise change.

[dcb]

Do YOU have any data on that? Or should we just speculate AND call each other delusional (and fools)?

[dcb]

"International regulators, primarily in Europe, are struggling to balance the potential safety benefit offered by DRL with the increased fuel consumption due to their use"

I think that is basically where we are at too. I had put a couple inexpensive warm white LED clusters on my bike but they didn't last. I will probably try again with more LEDS, and a regulator this time

I do feel like I'm pressing my luck every time I pass a cop with the headlight off, less so when I have auxiliary LED lighting, but it still not a guarantee of an equipment related ticket.

[dcb]

Well you felt so strongly about it I figured I'd ask if you had already done the research about the actual number of lives saved (and their categories) that you could share.