[Healeys] (no subject)alternator

[Michael Salter]

"Why do you suggest upgrading to adequate wiring only to the solenoid? What
do you mean how does the current get from there to the battery?"
Because from the solenoid to the battery the power passes through a battery
cable.
Michael Salter 

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces+msalter=precisionsportscar.com at autox.team.net
[mailto:healeys-bounces+msalter=precisionsportscar.com at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Brits'n'Pieces (Eric Frenken)
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:17 PM
To: rwil at sbcglobal.net; 'Charlie Baldwin'
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] (no subject)alternator

Roland, you've been lucky enough not to get in trouble with the original
sized cable. But I would surely suggest all to upgrade their cable between
alternator and battery if you have converted your car's charging system to
an alternator.

Why do you suggest upgrading to adequate wiring only to the solenoid? What
do you mean how does the current get from there to the battery?

Theoretically (and nearly practically) the size of the battery is no factor
for the charging current. Picture the whole electrical system as a watering
system. The battery is the reservoir, the consumers are little rivers taking
water away from the reservoir, the alternator is a big river flowing water
into the reservoir. It doesn't matter what capacity this water reservoir has
for the water masses to flow towards the reservoir. The only thing that
matters is how much water flows away through the little rivers. The big
river has to flow the same amount of water into the reservoir as water flows
away to keep the level. In case the reservoir (battery) is (nearly) empty,
you have another situation. The big river tries to fill the reservoir again
with huge masses of water in short time (high current). The only difference
between a big and a small reservoir is the time needed to be filled.

Best regards

Eric