Car batteries... Will it work?

stevensj13 · 12-20-2011, 12:24 PM

I know that car batteries like to be constantly charged and will die completely if they aren't, so if I hook up a car alternator to the wheels of the golf cart to spin it, would I be able to charge the batteries constantly and use them in the cart?

gornoman · 12-20-2011, 12:39 PM

yurtle · 12-20-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevensj13

I know that car batteries like to be constantly charged and will die completely if they aren't, so if I hook up a car alternator to the wheels of the golf cart to spin it, would I be able to charge the batteries constantly and use them in the cart?

You don't have a gasoline engine propelling the buggy. What you're describing is perpetual motion plus (losses).

stevensj13 · 12-20-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yurtle

You don't have a gasoline engine propelling the buggy. What you're describing is perpetual motion plus (losses).

I see what your saying. I wasnt clear with what i said. I meant, could i hook up an alternator to charge the car batteries while im driving. The motor will run off the batteries not the alternator

AirJunky · 12-20-2011, 03:03 PM

The alternator would never charge as much power as the batteries consume. So at most it would just lengthen the time till the batteries died.

sonicj · 12-20-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevensj13

I see what your saying. I wasnt clear with what i said. I meant, could i hook up an alternator to charge the car batteries while im driving. The motor will run off the batteries not the alternator

you could.... but a DC to DC converter is a more efficient/practical approach.

Davemuzz · 12-20-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonicj

you could.... but a DC to DC converter is a more efficient/practical approach.

But what if he hooked up 4 alternators..?

You know....one to each wheel? Then he would have 4 times the charging capacity. Or at least 4 times more charging capacity than you do.

kab69440 · 12-20-2011, 05:32 PM

Where are the Mythbusters when you need them? Oh wait, I remember...

sonicj · 12-20-2011, 05:37 PM

Forever Electric car ( by wind force generator) - YouTube

JohnnieB · 12-20-2011, 06:24 PM

I you lived in an area with hills that only go down, it might work.

You are basically describing my cart, except it uses the motor as a generator rather than a separate alternator.

12-20-2011, 12:24 PM	#1
stevensj13 Getting Wild Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 142	Car batteries... Will it work? I know that car batteries like to be constantly charged and will die completely if they aren't, so if I hook up a car alternator to the wheels of the golf cart to spin it, would I be able to charge the batteries constantly and use them in the cart?

12-20-2011, 12:39 PM	#2
gornoman Stay thirsty my friends! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Suburban Chicago Posts: 24,284	Re: Car batteries... Will it work? No.

12-20-2011, 03:03 PM	#5
AirJunky Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liberty Lake, WA. Posts: 1,762	Re: Car batteries... Will it work? The alternator would never charge as much power as the batteries consume. So at most it would just lengthen the time till the batteries died.

12-20-2011, 05:32 PM	#8
kab69440 Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Marion, Ohio Posts: 1,391	Re: Car batteries... Will it work? Where are the Mythbusters when you need them? Oh wait, I remember...

12-20-2011, 06:24 PM	#10
JohnnieB Techno-Nerd Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 19,654	Re: Car batteries... Will it work? I you lived in an area with hills that only go down, it might work. You are basically describing my cart, except it uses the motor as a generator rather than a separate alternator.

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