my local tuning garage - oh dear

[theduck]

quote from there site -

Upgrading Your Alternator

Frequent dead batteries are a good indication that your electrical system isn't keeping up and you may need to upgrade your alternator. Doing so will give you more juice to run all of your electrical components, including your stereo system, without looking to the battery for help. It is also more cost effective than adding a second battery, and will actually increase your BHP – less pressure on the engine to run the electrical system means added torque to your wheels.


wouldnt adding a bigger alternator put a larger strain on the enigne????

 

[Lunner]

Oh dear oh dear.

You onyl need to upgrade your alternator if you have a very big install, and if you do putting extra strain on the engine will be the last of your worries as the car will weigh that much.

Often in old cars if the battery keeps runnign flat it can be ndue to a dodgy battery or a dodgy alternator, replacing one or both these things can sort this wihtou having to 'uprate' anything.

Ahy do i get the feeling alot of the time peiople hear the word 'uprate' and imediatly decide it must be weally weally good, and that they must have it, ot saying thats you, thats just the general impression i get from reading, this forum in partuicular. Very few people actually stop and say, 'hang on, how is this part being better going to help me?', or 'hang on how can they actually make this part better, and is there any point?'

 

[theduck]

nice points, i was just bored at work reading there technical section about uoprated alternators, and that bit about increasing BHP and torque sounded very dodgy