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Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:01:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Engine electrical power requirements?
Comments: To: Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <4A8E97FE.2050809@colorado.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Yeah, well, I suppose the only persons who actually /need/ to know the power draw of the engine alone would be those whose alternator failed and they were looking at getting home on the battery and thinking, ". . . okay this is a 40Ah battery . . . I wonder how long it can power the engine?"

That would be the ECU, fuel pump, ignition bits (coil und so weiter), various senders and sensors stuff; and not counting headlights, radio, etc.

My interest is really on what your 90A Bosch alternator has left over after taking care of the engine.

I recall that the engine in my (now sold) 71 aircooled baywindow could drain a battery pretty quickly and all it needed for power was for ignition. No ECU, the fuel pump is mechanical, there's not even a temp sender.

Anyway, Mark Drillock provides the method to measure the numbers I need. I guess my in-depth article on aux battery charging -- which includes excellent calculations of wire sizes based on available power from such sources as your starter battery and alternator and takes into account such subtle matters such as internal resistance of typical lead-acid batteries, and which is intended to provide worst-case scenario for wire diameters and relay contact ratings, will just have to wait.

Simply a tragedy -- a tragedy, I tell you!

-- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano Bend, OR KG6RCR

On 8/21/2009 5:50 AM Richard A Jones wrote:

>> I am hopin' this is some bit of information that is commonly known. > > I asked the same question a couple of years ago and got nowhere, > so I'd say "it is commonly known that it is not commonly known...." > > Richard >


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