Warm air intake

[Magician]

Any suggestions on a 100 watt flexible panel and charger?

[stovie]

I got some led lights cheap off eBay for my s10 a few days ago!!���� I was thinking of taking the alternator from my engine to the driveline so that it only produces power when moving, I figured going that route would reduce overall resistance on the motor will not having to worry about solar chargers or battery banks!! The only problem I have now is if I remove my alternator right now I have no way to get a belt to the water pump cause everything else is off! ����

[Magician]

interesting idea... not sure it will be worth the effort as it seems like a very, very small gain. It would be pretty cool if you could have the alternator not load the engine while accelerating. Not sure if modern cars use technology like that, but seems like a good idea.

[stovie]

Originally Posted by Magician

interesting idea... not sure it will be worth the effort as it seems like a very, very small gain. It would be pretty cool if you could have the alternator not load the engine while accelerating. Not sure if modern cars use technology like that, but seems like a good idea.

I found the leds for pretty cheap, like about $20-30 for all but the headlights. I was thinking of putting a speed controlled power setup to turn the alternator on at about 25mph so that it has the vehicles momentum powering it more than the engine. Like I said though I will not have anything on the engine once I remove the alternator, because I'll be running the water pump and fan on a electric motor!!

[Stubby79]

Good luck...your alternator isn't going to make much, if any, power at only a few hundred RPM.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

At least to me, an alternator delete doesn't sound like a good idea at all. Anyway, IIRC some newer cars have "intelligent" alternators that only provide charge once the battery reaches a low charge or when the car is decelerating so they might be somewhat analogue to regenerative braking.

[stovie]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

Good luck...your alternator isn't going to make much, if any, power at only a few hundred RPM.

In my s10 the gearing to the wheels is 3.73, so it will spin about 865 rpm at 20mph! Now if I gear it 2-1 it will spin the alternator to over 1600 rpm before I have it activated!!

P.s. I just looked at my driveline, and a spot near the transmission is about 4.5 inches and the alternator pulley is about 2.25 inches so I might be able to mount it and just put a belt on in the end!?!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Would a workaround with a motorcycle stator be totally out of question? Well, since it wouldn't require a belt or a gear drive, presumably there will be fewer drag added to the driveline. If you eventually decide to go that way, making an enclosure similar to a brake drum for the stator and fit it between the transmission and the driveshaft like it was done with those older trucks with a transmission-mounted parking brake would be the way to go. Roughly maintenance-free too.

[stovie]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Would a workaround with a motorcycle stator be totally out of question? Well, since it wouldn't require a belt or a gear drive, presumably there will be fewer drag added to the driveline. If you eventually decide to go that way, making an enclosure similar to a brake drum for the stator and fit it between the transmission and the driveshaft like it was done with those older trucks with a transmission-mounted parking brake would be the way to go. Roughly maintenance-free too.

That would take quite a bit more to get it working!! All I got to do to get the alternator working is to bolt it in place and put a belt on and it's finished!! Using a stator would require some more alterations than I'm willing to do right now! But it would be better in the long run!!

[Stubby79]

As long as it isn't slipping, a modern, multi-ribbed serpentine belt is supposed to be about 98% efficient. There's not a lot to be gain by direct drive, and you'd lose your pulley ratio.