Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:37:01 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine electrical power requirements?
In-Reply-To: <00b501ca2353$7e8d5610$6501a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 8/22/2009 11:08 AM Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> but the way I would measure that current draw is to disable the
> alternator, even just remove the belt,
> and measure total current draw at the battery with engine running.
I agree, but for my purposes, Mark's piecemeal measurements are probably
close enough for me.
> what is this about anyway ?
> want to know if solar power alone will keep the engine running.
Heh. Hey everyone! Take a look at my solar-powered gasoline engine! I have
replaced the reliable, compact, and inexpensive alternator with
undependable (sun or shade?), large (6.5A = 80W minimum, so say 4 square
feet), and expensive solar panels!
The world will beat a path to my doorstep.
Nah, I've been looking at last week's question about how big the wiring
and relay need to be to handle charging current when two batteries are
connected together. Modeling the aux battery is pretty easy, but the
starter battery is a bit more complicated to model when it is also
connected to an alternator powered by an idling engine. Knowing how much
of a 90A alternator's power is required to keep the engine running is
useful, and now I have a number that is probably close enough.
The next thing I need to know is how the output voltage of our Bosch
alternators varies as a function of how heavily the alternator is loaded
(chart showing output volts vs load current) and am having no luck finding
that information.
Something I reckoned would be a published spec.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rocket J Squirrel"
> <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 8:26 PM
> Subject: Re: Engine electrical power requirements?
>
>
>> Hi mark,
>>
>> You're sure right about that. And I'd do it, too, except for two reasons:
>>
>> I have a broken ankle and can only stand on one foot, and all my meters
>> have blown fuses in the ammeter hole. That's normal for me.
>>
>> I am hopin' this is some bit of information that is commonly known.
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> Bend, OR
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/20/2009 3:23 PM mark drillock wrote:
>>
>>> If you open the wiring box on the fire wall there is a threaded stud
>>> with red wires attached with a nut. One of the red wires goes over to
>>> the fuel injection and powers everything but the coil and ignition
>>> module. Also in that box is a single connector with black wire. That is
>>> the power for the coil and ignition module as well as the small
>>> pick/hold current for the 2 relays nearby. You could measure the current
>>> on each of those 2 wires.
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>
>>> Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>> Anyone know offhand how many amperes it takes to keep the engine
>>>> running
>>>> at an idle? I'm talking about how much alternator current is needed
>>>> only
>>>> to keep the engine turning over -- not including power to do anything
>>>> else like charge the starter battery or run headlights, etc.
>>>> --
>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>>> Bend, OR
>>>> KG6RCR
>>>>
>>>
>
>
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