TOPIC:

just been out to replace the alternator on the wifes car and it got me thinking.
would it be possible, or has it been done before to put a mini (as in tiny, not the car!) alternator on an rc car?
driven from an external drive, say off a drive shaft for example, so it is constantly charging the battery as you drive, therefore unlimited drive time.
suppose size and weight would be the main disadvantage but i just wondered if it is possible.
feel free to enter me into the "stupid question of the month" competition

Sounds like a perpetuum mobile .

Sounds like another variation on the "perpetual motion machine" ... check out en.wikipedia.or...on_machine

1/10th scale KERS might be a possibility though

Maybe in one sentence - the alternator would be taking it's energy from the forward motion which in return comes from the battery and it can't make this a bigger quantity than it is. Even more so, the alternator is only a certain % (<100) efficient.
Apart from the energy loss from all kinds of friction and heat dissipation in the driving itself...

Okay, more than one sentence.

Edou wrote:

Maybe in one sentence - the alternator would be taking it's energy from the forward motion which in return comes from the battery and it can't make this a bigger quantity than it is. Even more so, the alternator is only a certain % (<100) efficient.
Apart from the energy loss from all kinds of friction and heat dissipation in the driving itself...

Okay, more than one sentence.

ok so in one sentence you probably should have said

"NO

That's not a sentence.

Btw - J-Retro and I have been posting a bit similar and simultaneous today...

Not trying to be a wisedonkey by the way.
It just got me thinking how it works again.
And of a theoretical solution... but I won't bore anyone with that.

Maybe add some solarpanels to compensate the efficiency loses.
(and perhaps a little windmill on top )
that may do the trick

Look at stirling engines - you could convert motor/battery heat into something useful, perhaps come up with something to power the radio gear, meaning you get more run time from the main battery. Piezo heat pumps are another good one