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Old 05-11-2008, 03:31 PM   #8 (permalink)
joe_padavano
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldsguy View Post
I think the amount of parasitic power loss from either source (mechanical or electric) is negligable (and un-avoidable) unless we are talking about a vehicle where you are trying to preserve every ounce of energy to make the vehicle go as the case would be in a drag car or in a high mileage competition at MIT.
That's correct. An old drag racing trick is to run a switch in the alternator circuit to turn it off during a run. The HP savings is tiny, but every little bit helps. Same for an electric fan - for 12-13 sec you can do without. This is just like the A/C clutch cutout at W.O.T. on virtually every car on the road.
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Joe Padavano

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