Ok besides the weight, does it really matter whether or not I play my music loud with the subs? I know using the AC and power mirrors contribute to a negativity of the mileage.. what about the subs?

 

just put some stickers on your car to offset the loss of hp, and some clean air stickers for +5 gas millage points.

(the sarcasm is the answer to your question)

 

I thought I was the only one who thought a spoon sticker = +10 hp D:

 

yes, the added weight and strain on the electrical system does decrease your gas mileage by a negligable ammount (unless of course you are running really high current amps)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by incubus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes, the added weight and strain on the electrical system does decrease your gas mileage by a negligable ammount (unless of course you are running really high current amps)</TD></TR></TABLE>

if hes running high current amps, hes gonna have to have a new alternator or the stock one will b toast soon...but i do agree. If there is a new alternator it might/would put extra strain on the engine. If it just the stock alternator with high current amps, it could be robbing the ignition system of the current it needs to make the spark plugs work as best as possible.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EvenStar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I know using the AC and power mirrors contribute to a negativity of the mileage.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Wait, power mirrors? This I can only see if someone were to have their power mirror motors going 100% of the time they are driving and even at that, i dont think it would put much strain on the electrical system to decrease mileage...personally I havent changed the position of the mirrors in my car in 2 years so idk who would be using them 100% of the time

 

To really kill gas mileage you would really need the car bumping putting a strain on the electrical system and the car at idle. Other then that its the weight that kills gas millage.

 

A buddy of mine has two 12'' subs in the buck of his car, he listens to his music bumping and he said he lost around 2 mpg

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IfHondaWereAWoman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A buddy of mine has two 12'' subs in the buck of his car, he listens to his music bumping and he said he lost around 2 mpg</TD></TR></TABLE>

as mentioned above, its most likely due to the weight of the equiptment

 

more amperage draw= more excitation voltage= more energized rotor= more force to turn the alternator= more strain= more parasitic drag losses? just a thought who knows.

 

This is how I see that the alternator works:

Its not that when higher amperage is put out that the alternator gets harder to turn, its because what causes more current draw in a system is essentially lower resistance(referring to the "resistance" that a amp puts on the system). Lower resistance, more current will flow. Such as if you have a 1.5v battery and you put a 3 ohm resistor across the terminals, you will get 1/2 of an amp. If you lower the resistance to 1 ohm, you will get 1.5 amps.

This also brings into comment about the power supply's ability to provide that amperage. Of course if you put a 1/8 ohm resistor across that 1.5v battery, theoretically you should get 12 amps but the battery itself will not supply that.

In an alternator, its ability to supply (up to a certain point) is based on its turning speed. Lets say (because this is probably not accurate) that the stock alternator can provide 60 amps at 1000 rpms; that is the max it will output at 60 1000rpms. it will provide 80 amps at 2500rpms. The difference is the rotation speed. Every time the alternator's inside turns past one of its coils, it creates a "pulse" of electricity(because ts rectified into DC). The faster it turns the more pulses per second happens which in turn makes it able to supply more electricity.

So to answer the question about it being harder to turn the alternator to get more amperage isnt true. Its just the resistance you put on the alternator which pulls more or less amperage(as in adding an amp to the electrical system which lowers the resistance presented to the alternator which causes the alternator to "make" more current) combined with the ability for the alternator to make that current based on its rotation speed.

Someone correct me if I am wrong about it being harder to turn the alternator to get more amperage. I am sure theres *some* type of difference of force needed to turn it but it wouldn't be noticeable.
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I am still wondering where he got "I know using the...power mirrors contribute to a negativity of the mileage."




Modified by imadigitalgod at 7:53 AM 9/18/2008

 

you an idiot, learn how an alternator works, i work on large commercial generators for a living, when you apply load you can physically feel and hear the motor strain for a second, you have to give more voltage to the rotor, to create a stronger magnetic field for more induction into the stator

 

The answers is, NO