You, sir, just got kicked in the nut$...

 

haha ouch! reminds me of that movie "idiocracy". yea I don't claim to know how they work or why it worked for me and I probably won't ever run one in another car but for some reason it worked for me. go figure eh

 

hey if you can afford it who cares... lol jk... man now i am throwen between getting one or not cuz i really hate it when my lights dim when i role all my windows up...

 

Why do your headlights dim when you roll your windows up?

 

Voltage drop due to load.

 

and would a voltage stabilizer help stop this???

 

not worth it

 

I was hoping he would answer so he would think about it and realize a grounding kit isn't going to help him at all.

 

I always had wondered about these but never asked. I never really understood them and just wrote them off as a good way for someone to make a buck. (in terms of newer cars)

Thanks for doing the leg work!

but i may try these on my 63 Nova. That shi..t is wack!

 

Voltage stabilizer will have no effect on voltage drop due to load. The voltage drop due to heavy loads due to the alternator trying to supply a lot of current. Alternators are rated for a certain current output, usually at certain RPMS. As you try and exceed that amperage output it can't really magically come up with more power then it can create, at a certain point the voltage drops because of the high amperage draw.

I'm probably not explaining it well, but power output of an alternator has limits. Power = Voltage X Amps. Usually you won't run up against the max power output limitations of the alternator, but if you do, the voltage will necessarily drop when the Amperage goes up.

And on the subject of voltage stabilizers, I agree with the main poster that their worthless, I have no idea how the small voltage ripple of an electrical system would effect power and fuel efficiency of an engine which is an entirely mechanical system. Electronic controls either work or don't work, they won't magically work better. A simplification but the point remains.

 

No problem.

I might give it a try in your 1963 Nova as well if I were you. Especially if you put together your own kit from scratch (which wouldn't cost much). I'm certain my 1969 Camaro could have benefited from a grounding kit. BUT - I would have needed to check it out as well with a meter.

 

i understand what you say about the alternators limits ... so the only way to get rid of this voltage drop is with a better one??? or is there another way...

 

Honestly I'd just ignore the effects, it's not going to hurt anything in a stock electrical system.

If you've started doing major modifications to the electrical system, adding components with lots of current draw then you're in another situation, but if that's not the case then leave it alone.

 

I'd like to here about your changes to reduce inside noise you listed in your sign. Did you happen to take some db measurements before and after and based on results have some recommendations.

 

man screw that i want to get rid of that voltage drop and i will find a way too... (i got money to throw around)

 

What about replacing the wire from the alt to the bat with a lower awg wire?

Josh

 

Back from the dead, I know . . . but I don't understand. Your battery is near your taillight housing?

Or you just ran a wire to the rear of the chassis for your negative ground?