So today I left my lights on at school, battery died, blah blah. I just jumped in front of a car and held them at gunpoint while they jump started my car. But I was thinking. What if i were to take my belt off, attach a cordless drill to my alternator pulley bolt, and turn it for a few minutes with the key on. Would this actually work? I cant see why it wont, but there are alot of things I cant see. Not that I plan on doing it but Im just curious.
You gotta think...when u get ur car jump started...and u let it run for a few minutes and shut it off and try to start it again it doesnt always have enough juice to start it back up. thats why u let it run a lil bit. Think how many revolutions that little pulley is making. Id say you would be there a while turning that lil pulley.
Just make sure you spin the drill the right way or you'll give the battery a negative charge. As a frame of refernce, a 3G alternator's critical speed is 15000 RPM. It would need some good humpin to spin the alt enough charge the battery up. A battery pack in the trunk isnt a bad idea. Just dont let anyone you know see you using it.
I know you would be there a while turning it, but I am just wondering if its possible. Not going to do it just curious. (I might do it if the discussion makes me lol)
lol wow that would be funny to drive up on.....seeing someones dewalt under the hood.....ummm can i help you...............nope just charging the car up....lol lol....jumpboxes rock i got one they work really well...i think it would be easier to just pop the clutch
seriously... in the time it takes to use a drill... i could either push start my car... or find someone to jump me... i used to push start my probe my self... and run around and jump in
From the law of energy conservation, it probably wouldn't work at all. Assuming 100% efficiency of the electric motor of the drill and the alternator, the most charge you could possibly transfer to your car battery is the amount of electrical energy stored in the drill's battery. But in reality electric motors are far from 100% efficient and alternators are probably aroud the same. The other problem is the alternator needs to be spinning at a pretty darn good speed for it to produce any sort of useful amperage, and resistance to turning increases alot as charge load increases which will make your drill motor heat up alot (yet another loss of potential energy) You're waaaaaaaay better off getting a booster pack to at least start the car, or charge the battery directly.
That's why you should use your hand to turn it.... a 250 lb man has more "energy" then a battery operated drill.
But that would take days. lol So it IS possible? I know its not practical at all. I just want to know if it is possible.
