Ok I'll go first then....

From the thread Fuel/Elec.Load/17" wheels (was interest to TDV6'ers) on June 6th 2006...we had this beauty from TFC..It's always stuck in my mind as one of the definitive 'up yours' posts ...

10forcash wrote:

OK, you asked for it

Conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy (including potential energy) in a closed system remains constant. In other words, energy can be converted from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

With the discovery of special relativity by Albert Einstein, it was found that energy is one component of an energy-momentum 4-vector. Each of the four components (one of energy and three of momentum) of this vector is separately conserved, as well as the vector length (Minkowski norm). The latter is associated with invariant mass and rest mass. The relativistic energy of a single massive particle contains a term related to its rest mass in addition to its kinetic energy of motion. In the limit of zero kinetic energy (or equivalently in the rest frame of the massive particle, or the center-of-momentum frame for objects or systems), the total energy of particle or object (including internal kinetic energy in systems) is related to its rest mass via the famous equation E = mc2. Thus, the rule of conservation of energy was shown to be a special case of a more general rule, alternatively called the conservation of mass and energy, the conservation of mass-energy, the conservation of energy-momentum, the conservation of invariant mass or now usually just referred to as conservation of energy.
The conservation of energy is a common feature in many physical theories. It is understood as a consequence of Noether's theorem which states that any theory whose description is not sensitive to a starting time will have constant energy. In other words, if the theory is invariant under the continuous symmetry of time translation its energy is conserved. Conversely, theories which are not invariant under shifts in time (for example, systems with time dependent potential energy) do not exhibit conservation of energy.
In quantum mechanics energy is defined as a time derivative of wave function. Lack of commuting of time derivative operator with time mathematically results in uncertainty principle for energy definition: the longer the period of time the more precisely energy can be defined (energy and time become conjugate Fourier pair).
How does this relate to a Disco 3? (or any other vehicle)
Well, an engine as a source of energy is a closed system, traditionally measured in BHP, but can also expressed in kW. A charge alternator has a finite output, let’s say 150Amps at 14.5 volts, Power equals volts times amps so 150 x 14.5 = 2175W – the maximum finite output from the alternator. If the Discovery 3 has a maximum engine power of 140kW, then 2175W (2.175kW) is 1.5535714285714285714285714285714% of engine power, hence is also 1.5535714285714285714285714285714% of engine load – excluding friction.
Of course, maximum output is neither desired or possible, in cases where it is not desired, the regulator will reduce demand upon the energy source (engine), thereby reducing the energy transfer from the engine and the subsequent fuel consumption. In cases where demand cannot be met by the alternator, by virtue of low output, which is speed dependent – energy demands are supplemented by the stored energy in the vehicle battery, which is then recharged at an approximate rate of 1.3Amps input for every 1 amp discharged.
Following the Conservation of energy theorem, this energy can only come from the vehicle’s engine – which of course gets it’s energy from the burning of fuel… see the link now?

Of course, you may well get a higher energy consumption due to the number of flies hitting your windscreen – but that’s another debate altogether

Bodsy wrote:

It was of course non-relevant rubbish most of the time

Fits in well with anything to do with DG, then!

an inebriated qzdcg8 wrote:

good good - quite clearly an inch is better than a winch!

 Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)