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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jmez36hz" data-source="post: 8214462" data-attributes="member: 659296">I've been doing a bit of poking around researching the use of either a variable resistor or a potentiometer in the sensor line of an alternator to give a degree of manual voltage output control. My theory is, If you trick the alternator into thinking there is less voltage in the system it will increase its output. I do realize there are potential problems to this, such as overheating the alternator or overcharging the system. I've always liked experimenting with things like this though and am pretty determined to play with it a bit. I think as long as you used such a modification reasonably IE not keeping it cranked all out all the time it might just work out. Does anyone have any experience with trickery like this? Any ideas or input is greatly appreciated. If it helps, my testing vehicle will be a 95 Mazda Mx3  with an internally regulated 140amp alternator and a Kinetik hc800 battery. I have also considered moving the alternator to a different location, currently it is mounted up behind the engine in what i consider a heat pocket, I however have removed most of my ac components and am waiting on a friend to help me make a custom bracket to move it to the front bottom of the engine compartment (Where AC compressor is now) where I think it will get much much better airflow and not be trapped in the heat of the engine. This will put it on the other crank pulley, so I know I have to do some calculation to make sure the different pulley isn't going to be a problem, and I may have to consider a custom pulley.I haven't decided on a particular potentiometer or variable resistor yet. I was thinking about doing a whole new run from the battery through a fuse, up to the cabin of the vehicle to the device i decide on, and from there running to the alternator sense lead. This way say for example if the alternator is set to 14.2 volts and the electrical system is at 14.2 volts I can decrease the voltage to the sense lead manually to trick the alternator into thinking there is only 13 volts in the system therefore tricking it into increasing its output.I also realize there are probably other options out there to accomplish the same or similar ends, which I am welcome to hearing about. But I would like to experiment with this anyway.  Are there any immediate hurtles anyone can foresee to this? Safety considerations I need to take? Anything stupid I missed?</blockquote>

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