On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 4:37 PM, Olin Lathrop <olin_piclist@embedinc.com>wr=
ote:

> Yigit Turgut wrote:
> > That's I agree, but remember that alternator already generates huge
> > amounts of energy.
>
> No, it doesn't.
>
> > Car electronics + illumination draw negligible currents compared to
> > output of the alternator, the rest is used for electrolyze.
>
> This is nonsense.  You need to go back to highschool physics and pay
> attention this time.  The alternator is just a electric generator.
> Mechanical power comes in, electric power comes out.  Of course it's not
> 100% efficient, so some heat comes out too.
>

A standart car alternator can generate up to 50A maybe more (instantly)
depending on the rpm. If you had looked into the electrolyze process (which
is the main topic here) you'd know that it's a linear function depending
only on time and current applied. Bottom line is alternator can generate
huge (instantenous) power at its output.This will obviously occur at higher
rpms. Of course it's input is the rotationary motion which is essentially
originating from the fuel. I think you are stuck at "generation" (: A syste=
m
working at this macro level can not  generate "energy", it can only convert
it from one form to another. Not worth mentioning, just saying..


> It doesn't just "generate huge amounts of energy".  It may be capable of
> generating a large amount of power, but the actual amount depends on the
> actual electric load.  The car electronics is generally a light load,
> meaning the generator could produce more power, but it doesn't actually d=
o
> so until there is more of a load.


That case applies when the water runs out because water is the load here an=
d
since the impedance increases between the probes of electrolyte system ther=
e
will be less current drawn fro the alternator.


>  You could put the extra capacity of the
> generator to use doing other things, like splitting water into hydrogen a=
nd
> oxygen, but that extra power isn't free.  It ultimately comes from the
> mechanical input power, which comes from the engine.  Put another way, wh=
en
> the generator ouptut is loaded more, it in turn becomes a bigger mechanic=
al
> load on the engine.  Put yet another way, the generator shaft is harder t=
o
> spin when there is a larger electrical load on its output.
>

It is true, but you'd know that  it's negligible if you had actually seen
the output of a car alternator or looked into how much current it is capabl=
e
of generating. Car is already an inefficient machine, you will not need to
burn extra fuel for electrolyze process.

I think you are stressed a little bit, a slim blunt can make your day! Also
you can ask Colin for a sniff (if he is into sharing, which I doubt in your
case).
--=20
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