[Spridgets] Alternator Project

[60bugeye at cebridge.net]

Have your Lucas mechanical voltage regulator converted to electronic 
regulation inside it and you will get a better charging rate and 
reliability.  http://www.wiltonae.com/

With the generator and regulator in great shape and a higher wattage 
headlight you should be easily seen and see easily.  Who needs a radio as 
the exh sound is music

Leo

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tim Collins
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:52 PM
To: Howie
Cc: spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Alternator Project

Howard,

The very last picture is a performance comparison between my
generator and the new alternator. The graph shows that the alternator
puts out a higher voltage at lower RPM's and the high voltage is
consistent across all RPM ranges above idle. Then I don't have to
think about the mechanical voltage regulator. Critics will say that I
have just exchanged mechanical voltage regulation for electrical
regulation and both can fail. Ya, that's true, but I feel that there
is a good reason that all modern cars have alternators rather than
generators. The brushes in generators carry a high current while the
"brushes" in an alternator carry very little current and that's good.

I left my radio on once and found the battery dead. I put the charger
on for a short while then went shopping with my wife. The battery
didn't get charged enough to start the car when we wanted to leave
the fruit market. My wife ended up pushing the car so I could pop the
clutch to start the car. Only had to go a few feet, but she's a tiny
person. On the plus side we had a woman come running over to offer to
help push. She said she'd had to do that to cars she owned. Just then
the car started. I think with an alternator the battery might have
been up to par with the short drive - at least enough to restart.

The car idles a few hundred RPM's lower now too. That surprised me.
Still thinking that one through. Theoretically the spark should be a
bit hotter as the coil now sees a consistently higher voltage.

Mainly, and most importantly, this was a project! I like doing
projects and am sad when they are over. Now I'm trying to think up
the next one. Projects are good!

At 06:00 PM 7/10/2012, you wrote:
>I've been considering doing this to my Bugeye. Can you explain the benefits 
>before I give it further consideration?
>
>Thanks,
>Howard Collins

Tim Collins
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12702006@N07/sets/
------------------------

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