trickle charge to reduce fuel?

[Firestarter]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

I EOC so much, the alternator has no chance of keeping the battery topped up. A few cents of electricity is cheaper than the dollars of gas consumed by leaving the engine running.

Eoc? Start and stop the motor I'm assuming.

[PaleMelanesian]

Right. When you're Engine Off Coasting, the engine's not turning, so the alternator is also not turning or charging.

[Firestarter]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Right. When you're Engine Off Coasting, the engine's not turning, so the alternator is also not turning or charging.

I've done that on street bikes... but that's cause the motors are so roll restrictive.

[brucepick]

I guess I'm convinced now -
It's a case of different strokes for different folks.

I think it's mostly a matter of what your skills are and what type driving you do.

[Ryland]

A topped off battery is going to save wear and tear all around, it's going to put less of an electrical load on everything because there will be slightly higher voltage, it will also make the engine spin over slightly faster causing it to catch sooner and be at a higher speed when it does catch.
Really I don't see any draw backs to plugging your battery in to a charger, it might not be worth it to you to do it every single day but once per week if you do a lot of short trips or a few times per year and you will end up saving money in other parts of your car, not just saving in gas.

[Firestarter]

Originally Posted by Ryland

A topped off battery is going to save wear and tear all around, it's going to put less of an electrical load on everything because there will be slightly higher voltage, it will also make the engine spin over slightly faster causing it to catch sooner and be at a higher speed when it does catch.
Really I don't see any draw backs to plugging your battery in to a charger, it might not be worth it to you to do it every single day but once per week if you do a lot of short trips or a few times per year and you will end up saving money in other parts of your car, not just saving in gas.

Not necessarily true. Every car I owned cranked over the same unless the battery was low or ice cold. I've even upgraded to higher amperage batteries and still same cranking duration. Perhaps it its relay prevents ultra high amperage from reaching the starter.

Personally I think you would get more of a benefit from solar panels

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by Firestarter

Personally I think you would get more of a benefit from solar panels

Yes you would, a solar panel would also be in the category of trickle charger and people who I know who have had solar panels keeping their batteries topped off, including two of my parents vehicles, have found them to help keep the battery healthy and from needing to be replaced, paying for the cost of the panel right away.

[Firestarter]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Yes you would, a solar panel would also be in the category of trickle charger and people who I know who have had solar panels keeping their batteries topped off, including two of my parents vehicles, have found them to help keep the battery healthy and from needing to be replaced, paying for the cost of the panel right away.

How much mpg did they gain?

I should make a spoiler out of panels for my WRX... hahahaha

[Cobb]

I purchased 4 panels from ebay to mount side by side to do just that for 48 volts for my engine phev kit. Question is, how much mpg will the wing cost me and is there such a thing as a zero drag as the mugen aftermarket wing claims?

Originally Posted by Firestarter

How much mpg did they gain?

I should make a spoiler out of panels for my WRX... hahahaha