a source familiar with the matter on Nostr: "As the electrical demand goes up, the alternator puts an increased load on the belt, ...
"As the electrical demand goes up, the alternator puts an increased load on the belt, and therefore the engine, to make that juice."
https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternators-extra-electricity-if-battery-is-fully-charged/87354
"If the engine is spinning the alternator is spinning and producing power. This is regulated by a voltage regulator that will raise or lower the output voltage to either charge or maintain the charge level (float charge) in the battery.
So an alternator cant be turned off directly as it has a direct belt connection to the engine. However you can turn off the resistance of the alternator and have it freely spin by the regulator setting a voltage slightly lower than the battery."
https://www.quora.com/Does-the-alternator-run-constantly-even-if-the-car-battery-is-full
https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternators-extra-electricity-if-battery-is-fully-charged/87354
"If the engine is spinning the alternator is spinning and producing power. This is regulated by a voltage regulator that will raise or lower the output voltage to either charge or maintain the charge level (float charge) in the battery.
So an alternator cant be turned off directly as it has a direct belt connection to the engine. However you can turn off the resistance of the alternator and have it freely spin by the regulator setting a voltage slightly lower than the battery."
https://www.quora.com/Does-the-alternator-run-constantly-even-if-the-car-battery-is-full