Running an alternator

[Hacksaw]

Originally Posted by Robbie Welch

Thanks again for the response's. My concern is load on the alternator possibly changing during a run and the affect it would have (if any) on the run.

Years ago we calculated that an alternator consumed approx. 3 to 5 hp. I would kill the field wire with a switch before the run. The battery supplies power to all the electrical devices and the alt. replenishes voltage back to the battery. So, IMO, if you maintain your batt. voltage to the same level before each run and let the alt. do it's job, then basically your run charge cycle will always be the same and the variables don't change. So it should not make any difference on the et.