[SoCal LS-L]

Originally Posted by Trevor

The alternator incorporates a voltage regulator. The lower the detected battery voltage the greater the adjusted alternator output in amps.

This also means that with any increase the connected load, the output current will be adjusted.

The alternator does indeed place a parasitic load on the engine, and this will vary in accordance with the output, which in turn will depend on the electrical load. Annoying others at the traffic lights with a boom box, therefore costs you.

Building on that, most recent cars, I think including the SVX, also have the field control directed by the ECU which also adjusts alternator output for other factors, such as incoming air temp or engine load.