The LED lighting thread

[Sea Ranch]

Got it. Interesting. Good to reminded that there's no free energy. The more output the alternator is delivering, the more resistance to rotating it presents to the engine and therefore the electrical energy the alternator is producing is equaled - in the theoretical world - by the energy used in the engine to produce that electricity.

I always felt that it would be best to start with a belt tension slack enough to cause some squealing (which would indicate slippage). Then gradually tighten up until the squealing just disappeared. That would, in my mind, be the optimum tension.

[TBG]

I tried and tried to get a toothed belt system to work and they kept snapping after not that many miles. Seems there was an harmonic that they just did not like - hence the twin belt system. It works. D

[Sea Ranch]

Good to know.

I suppose there really is some engineering involved in car design after all

[Frogelan]

@TBG Am just catching up on this thread..is the dual crank pulley adapted by your good self or available everywhere.. this may be worth a thread!

[billwill]

I doubt that changing the belt tension has any significant effect on alternator power output, but changing pulley sizes would.

With LED bulb, you can possibly run the alternator with less RPM, which will save on wear & tear of the alternator.