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Old 12-13-2007, 10:57 PM   #5
BigEnos
Planning stages...
 
Drives: 1995 Z28,2014 Ford Focus ST
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 160
Someone asked CarCraft about electric superchargers and they pointed out that B&Ms test rig uses a three stage AC electric motor to test run their superchargers at no load. Given that B&M haven't been peddling crap all these years and they do make a product that is reasonably efficient, I'd say that's a lot of power to spin that blower to normal running speed, and that's even before you add a load (IOW actually build PSI). To install that size electric motor and the wiring/power generation infrastructure to run it would be counterproductive if not impossible.

If you are looking for nearly free and adjustable power, turbochargers seem to fill that bill nicely. It's not easy, but it's been shown time and time again that it works.

As another "data point", Mercedes Benz installs clutched pulleys on its superchargers and they do shut themselves off at low/no load.
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