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Re: [Healeys] (no subject)alternator

To: <rwil@sbcglobal.net>, "'Charlie Baldwin'" <mgcharlie@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] (no subject)alternator
From: "Brits'n'Pieces \(Eric Frenken\)" <lists@brits-n-pieces.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:16:44 +0200
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


Has anyone who has installed an alternator ever had a problem from
overloading the Healey electrics?  

I never had a problem with a subbed Delco. If the car is going to use just
the power it was designed to consume there isn't going to be a problem, for
sure. If the car is going to be running powerful and inefficient driving
lights or a 500 watt sound system then some thought to how the power will
get to them will be needed as well. But the supply to the rest of the car
can stay the same.  I'd suggest leaving your original wiring harnesses alone
and if you need a 90 amp alternator make sure that it has adequate wiring to
solenoid and the new stuff. If you aren't going to upsize the battery the
original cable will supply all the charging current that the battery can
take 

-Roland
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