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On 23 Mar 2005 at 0:10, David V.N. wrote: > From: "Jim Adney" <jadney@vwtype3.org> > > > My generator can't keep up when my car is just idling. > > Especially with a modern set of headlights.I like to see. At idle? And, BTW, here's an interesting fact to store away: Good modern Quartz Halogen headlights actually take no more current than the old fashioned ones that our cars originally came with. > > This is simply due to the fact that, at idle, an alternator will > > generate some current (certainly not its full rating) while a generator > > will put out little or nothing. > > Exactly.That ,of course, is fine if you've got nothing running besides the > engine but if you have a heater blower or maybe a fan,(again,I like to see), > It's just not enough.Hook up a multimeter in an idling T3 and then turn on > your lights. > Watch the voltage plummet. Sure, that's true, but only at idle. So your headlights may dim a bit when you're stopped. Once you're up to a good jogging pace they'll be right back up there. How far do you need to see when you're stopped? > > 2) My battery wouldn't stay charged because the generator charging system > > wasn't working right, so I just replaced it with something brand new. > > It was just inadequate.New,shiny stuff may impress some but not me. > > The only problem with this approach is that the alternator is a more > > complicated (and expensive) system than the generator. When you have > > trouble > > with IT, you'll have even less chance of figuring it out yourself. I guess > > that > > would be a good time to replace everything again, perhaps with the old > > generator, which we hoped you saved. ;-) > > No more so than anything else,IMHO.There are lots and lots of web pages > that deal with alternator diagnoses.Very few about generators. I suspect everyone here knows how to email me and ask for my generator troubleshooting FAQ. It's free and it includes everything you need to know about troubleshooting your generator/VR system. To use it, you need to be able to use a voltmeter. If you can't do that, you're not going to be able to even think about troubleshooting an alternator system. > > 3) I like the idea of a system that puts out 70 Amps. It just makes me > > feel > > more secure knowing that I have all that power flowing out of my new > > charging > > system. > > Yes, I do. Even though you know that it's not? (Not putting out 70 Amps.) > Not absolutely true .Average acoustic power over > a long period of time is what counts.I don't listen that loudly. My point is that an average of 20 Watts in a car IS a lot. > > Well, I guess that's a matter of taste, but if you really want to spend > money > > on bragging rights, why not get something that brings an actual advantage > > with > > it. For the same money you could get a counterweighted crank, or a full > > flow > > oil filter system AND case savers, or a good 4 angle valve job. Each of > > these > > comes with proven benefits. > > Got 'em all. Atta boy! ;-) > > OTOH, if all you're into is appearances, I've got rub-on decals of my > > signature. One of these on your dash will instantly signal to the Type 3 > > "In > > Crowd" that your car is one of the elite. These are extremely limited > > production items, but I'll sell them for the same price as the alternator > > kits, > > and throw in a Salad Shooter, and a Popeil Pocket Fisherman, for free! > > > > Signatures come in your choice of black, yellow, or red.* > > > > > > (*This offer subject to revision at any time.) > > Ax to grind,maybe? > 8^) Not really, just had to counter what I viewed as a misinformed sense of the value of this "upgrade." Keep in mind that, of the 2 items I've offered here, the FAQ which I offer for free is the more useful. -- Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711-3054 USA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~