Do transmission losses increase with HP?

[Chase]

Just been reading a thread that got me thinking...

Tranmission losses seem to always be quoted as a %. Is this actually the case?

For example say you had a 100hp engine connected to a gearbox that sapped 20hp (20%) giving 80hp at the wheels, if you then bolted a 500hp engine to the box, surely it would still only sap 20hp and not 100hp? (I'm just thinking in very simplistic terms.)

Or is that not the case?

:conf:

[Alex]

I do think the losses increase...but that it's not linear...

ie say from 400-500hp the loss increase I'd only expect from extra heat energy being created...

Where as 100-500hp would see far more strain on the drivetrain, lubrication system, barings, heat production, etc

If you see what I mean.

I'd guess that the HP loss went up a bit but that the %age loss would stay the same and usually decrease.

[Ian C]

The more power you put through anything, the hotter and louder it gets, and the heat and noise are wasted energy, in this case the losses caused by the drivetrain. So it is a percentage. As to if it is a constant percentage or not I couldn't say but I bet it remains fairly linear.

-Ian