danglerb

Option some like from I think Roger is 80/100, but it runs both filaments in the high mode.

Still I see your point, and tend to side with Santa.

LT Texan

That's a great idea. Rectifiers too? Those babies get hot. Didn't cars mostly have remote voltage regulators back in the day?

Alan

Yes most did, you can get remote regulators for Bosch alternators - see http://www.davebarton.com/AdjustableVoltage.html

This is also adjustable voltage.

Regulators are often modularly connected for replacement - makes for easier remote adapter options - and the current levels involved - just 3 small wire connections. Remote rectifier diodes would require a high current 3 phase (3 big wires) connection to the alternator and some kind of forced cooling or a very large heatsink... not so practical and usually not so modular.

Just a gentle reminder on variable alternator voltage...

Of course - if you think about it - setting the voltage higher will not help one jot at idle - in fact the higher you set it the sooner it will start to droop...

Its just physics - the alternator suffers from a power generation limitation at idle - so if you ask for a higher voltage you are asking for higher power consumed in everything that is active... and not in ratio to the voltage increase but actually at a square law...

So if this baseline power is raised you will just hit the power limitation sooner at idle - there are some second order effects - but they aren't that significant.

Alan