battery charging between rounds?

I see Stockers charging battery between rounds and wonder if that is necessary on a "street car"? Our Pure Stocker still has the OEM alternator, belt, etc. which we run. I've heard that if the alternator needs to charge the system it can possibly cost you a tenth. If we get a good charge between runs will that keep the alternator from affecting ET?

Thanks.

[Alan Roehrich]

Race engines burn gasoline, but race cars run on electricity. We charge our batteries at 40 amps during cool down, and then at 10 amps until we go to the lanes. Charging between rounds solves or prevents problems before they happen.

[Dragsinger]

Tar,

for sure there is no harm in charging battery between runs. By doing so, the battery never becomes depleted and the alternator only has a small load when moving down track.

One key, keep good records. I do not expect the performance would be much different between charging and not charging but at least in theory there could be a small difference.

The goal of course, is consistent performance. If you run the fan with engine off it seems reasonable to replenish that battery reserve so the alternator does not have to do that during a run.

So something like this would be good?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0360&ppt=C0005

[Rob Petrie E395]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

So something like this would be good?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0360&ppt=C0005

Thats the exact charger I use on my bracket car and my soon to be completed stocker.. I got a lecture about it last week because I use Optima batteries and its not supposed to be good for them. I also charge at 40 amps normally between rounds and then kick it down to the10 amp setting for a few min after I turn the fans and pump off just to make sure. The one thing I do like about it (and I know this is not right) but in the late rounds around here sometimes we only have a few min to get back to the lanes. Especially when I am still in competition in both classes that I run with the same car. What that charger allows me to do is kick it up on the engine start setting and gives me about 16 volts. Again I know its "wrong" but it does cool the engine really FAST when necessary on a short turn around. I have only had one failure of a optima battery since in the last 12-13 years doing this.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Race engines burn gasoline, but race cars run on electricity. We charge our batteries at 40 amps during cool down, and then at 10 amps until we go to the lanes. Charging between rounds solves or prevents problems before they happen.

X2 Jim


.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

I charge battery on my pure stocker to make up for running electric fans to cool between rounds.Usauly let fans cools radiator, then start for few seconds to move cool water from radiator to block,since don't have a electric water pump to circulate,can start and watch temp gauge come down then shutoff and cool radiator again.
Tar Heel do you have restrictor in place of thermostat?
Mike Taylor 3601

[chris ok]

Which Optima battery is recommended for a car with an alternator? electric fuel pump, but belt driven cooling fan still. 70 Chevelle.

[Stock726]

Optima Red Top.

Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601

I charge battery on my pure stocker to make up for running electric fans to cool between rounds.Usauly let fans cools radiator, then start for few seconds to move cool water from radiator to block,since don't have a electric water pump to circulate,can start and watch temp gauge come down then shutoff and cool radiator again.
Tar Heel do you have restrictor in place of thermostat?
Mike Taylor 3601

No, it has a 160 thermostat in it. It's still a street car if you will. This summer we did the major changes to get it to run under ... gears, converter, cam, headers, wheels/tires, tune, etc. Now we can start tweaking and an electric water pump is next this winter and we'll do the plate then.

Scott