Re: [T3] DBB alternator related subject

[Per Lindgren <per.lindgren@c2i.net>]

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Jens Vagelpohl wrote:

> Now that's just simple logic, isn't it? When those cars were built 
> people did not have 200 Watt stereos and high-wattage H-4 headlights.


My 73 came with H4 headlights from Wolfsburg. Of course, they dont draw 
that many more amperes than the Bilux ones.

As a comparison, the Bilux low beams are 40 watt, H4 are 55. Measured at 
12 volts (which is the standard on bulbs), that is 6.67A on the Bilux 
bulbs, 9.16A on the H4. The high beam filament is rated at 45 watt on 
the Bilux lights, 60 watt on H4. That is an increase of 2.5A, up from 
7.5A on the Bilux to 10A on the H4. This means that you use as much as 
10A on the headlights alone, and a minimum of 9.16A. I have to drive 
with headlights on all the time, it's the law here in Norway.

Now, add to that the parking light bulbs (2x 4 watt on Euro models, 2x 4 
watt + 2x 5 watt watts on NA models - were talking late cars here), 2x 5 
watts on rear lights and 2x 10 watts on plate lights and 4x  2 watt on 
instrument lights means that you draw an additional 4.67A on the rest of 
the bulbs, and you're close to half of the rating of the 30A generator 
on bulbs alone! On a cold misty morning, you also use the heated rear 
window, the wipers and maybe the fresh air fan, and the amperes are 
really collecting up fast. If you also use the Ebersp?cher to warm your 
interior, the generator is starting to show it's limit. The gas heater 
has a 16A fuse, a 10A wont cut it; it's too small. This means that the 
BN2 draw somewhere between 10 and 16 ampere. I have no idea how much the 
wiper or the rear window heater pulls from the system.

Now, one rarely uses all this at once, but it does happen from time to 
time, and that is where it is nice to have something more powerful than 
the 30A generator. And if you then have a stereo system (like me) you 
definitely need more than 30A.

PerL
73 & 70 Variant


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