Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 12:50:08 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject: Re: Will my alternator survive a TV VCR combo?
In-Reply-To: <11A2A5877BEFD111998900A0C9C74AD84E6B75@info_hq.infogenesis .com>
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Geez, people, let's not make too much of this... :)
Various people wrote:
>I might suggest a new 12v receptacle wired straight to the battery with
>heavier wire. There are some very nice flush (panel) mount 12v
>receptacles available at West Marine. Just make sure you fuse the
>receptacle with an appropriate fuse.
Absolutely, for convenience, and to resolve any potential poor fit btw
American style plug and VW style socket. But IMO entirely unnecessary for
current draw. Incidentally I have a surface-mount three-holer mounted at
the rear edge of the driver's seat pedestal, facing aft. It is controlled
by a switch on the dash. Convenient wiring path and convenient location
for stuff to be run in the main cabin or between the front seats.
> > Can you tell us how many amps it draws?
That would be nice to know. I'd be astonished if it were as much as 8 amps
(100 watts).
> > My guess would be that it will be okay on the alternator, but
The alternator, as far as I know, doesn't care in the least how much it is
called to supply. It has no high-current rotating connections like a DC
generator. It is of course harder to spin with bigger load, so maybe it
wears the bearings (a little) faster.
The real question, if there is one, is whether it can indeed supply
enough current to keep up with the demand. The 90 Amp rating is (probably)
nominal for a cold alternator; they supply less at working temps. Bentley
allows output of (nominal - 16) amps but doesn't specify hot or cold.
High beams ~10-15 amps (stock 65w bulb, round headlight, about 10 amps the
pair)
Blower (high) 12 amps
Rear blower (high) unknown, guess 8 amps. Might be 12, though, the motor
looks very similar to the front one.
Ignition/ECU/fuel pump/PCV heater/aux air valve/idle stabilizer/injectors
-- unknown, would be really interesting to find out. Tentative guess 20
amps, a good chunk of it for fuel pump. Do I hear 15 instead? That would
be nice.
Wipers (guess) 5-8 amps
Rear window defrost 10 amps + maybe 5 if you have power mirrors.
Radio maybe 5 amps - normal radio, not you crazy folks :)
So driving down the road in a slush-storm, you're looking at maybe 75 amps
right there. Foglights 8 amps, the big-headlight crowd can add another ten
or more amps, and for the big-stereo guys, the sky's the limit if they keep
the bass cranked up really lout^Hd.
Interesting, eh?
> > I might have
> > some concern for how many amps they are putting through the cigarette
> > lighter socket.... the wires that supply it are pretty
> > small... I forget the
> > gauge.
16 gauge wires, DIN rated 17 amps at 50C, 24 amps at 30C continuous. The
circuit is fused 16 amps but also supplies interior lighting and radio
(based on 1986 schematic).
david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"
