IOW, if the battery was fully charged at the beginning of each test, would the hp required to merely maintain a charge be the same for both alternators?
That's what I was thinking. An alternator will never generate more current than is needed by the demands of the electrical system. The 37 amp alternator and the 50 amp alternator will put out the same current when connected to identical loads (up to a point). If the load is sufficiently large, e.g., somewhere above 37 amps, the 37 amp alternator will hit its limit while the 50 amp alternator will continue to deliver .
An alternator will never generate more current than is needed by the demands of the electrical system Exactly!!!! For example, if the steady state load is say 21 amps on a 37 amp alternator, you can put a 200 amp alternator on the car and it will output the same 21 amps. You only need a larger alternator if you are adding things like fuel injection, electric fans etc. that are beyond the capability of the stock one.
Even the stock alternators will put out more than their rating. My 69 340 Cuda with AC has a 46 amp factory alternator and when Dixie Restorations did the final test, it cranked out 55.8 amps while charging up a battery.
Jim
