Charging battery with alternator

[Soundguy]

I remember in the older days the advice for jump starting usually told us to turn off the radios and all electrical items in the car being boosted, the idea was that by not having lights, etc. on, the battery being boosted would have more current to send to the starter, and by having the radio off, it wouldn't be "damaged by a current surge"....:laughing:

Has anyone ever known about a radio that was left on and was damaged? I never heard of that happening.

why leave it on to consume and waste power that needs to be going to a starter.

that's akin to turning on the ac, radio and all the lamps on both vehicles before starting.

it is a waste. let the amps for the starter and the battery.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I noticed that when I turn on the AC the engine rev go up about 100 RPM. So this would give more alternator output.

idle up solenoid pretty common setup...

 

[BobRip]

idle up solenoid pretty common setup...

No idle up solenoid anymore. They used to have them. Now there is a steeper motor that controls idle speed. The idle air motor.

 

[Soundguy]

same function...

 

[rhett]

Hi, "Charging battery with alternator" sure that is what they do. A wind turbine spins an alternator to make power and batteries are used to store the power.

been doing allot of research about alternator's charging batteries. still much more to learn though.

- alternator's are rated at 100 percent duty cycle
- alternator's produce 115v AC current, the diodes make it 115v DC
- alternator regulators keep the DC current at about 14.6v (perfect to charge)
- alternator's optimal shaft speed is 5,000 rpm, maximum usable is 7,000 rpm
- alternator's are designed to charge batteries and supply power for other loads
- Do Not disconnect the battery with engine running (diodes will burn out)

in this picture to the left is my work in progress 6.5hp dual alternator charging system.
currently it only has one Delco 12-si 94 amp alternator (internal regulator). i have recently received the second short alternator mounting bracket. both stainless steel. the neat thing about the internal regulator is that the field exciter is switched so battery/load can be removed with the engine running. down side is if not switched off it will drain the battery, with a One Wire alternator the engine can be left to just run out of gas

the Epicenter has instructions on how to, before listing items which can be DIY, they are also BBB accredited. Notice in the first link the Dual alternator setup 12v and a 24v.
More Home made generator projects!
Building your own generator.
Building a high power AC/DC generator system!
Convert a lawn mower into a generator!

Yup, alternator's can also be modified to weld. Engine RPM controls the output doing so, and a rheostat can be added to control the field input current to fine tune for even TIG welding. Lots more for me to learn or just spring for the $800 plus for a pre-made unit (ZENA). ZENA also has some awesome high output alternators (100 percent duty cycle).

EDIT: also 1 hp is recommended for every 25 amps of alternator output at 100 percent load.

 

[EE_Bota]

Hi, "Charging battery with alternator" sure that is what they do. A wind turbine spins an alternator to make power and batteries are used to store the power.

been doing allot of research about alternator's charging batteries. still much more to learn though.

- alternator's are rated at 100 percent duty cycle
- alternator's produce 115v AC current, the diodes make it 115v DC
- alternator regulators keep the DC current at about 14.6v (perfect to charge)
- alternator's optimal shaft speed is 5,000 rpm, maximum usable is 7,000 rpm
- alternator's are designed to charge batteries and supply power for other loads
- Do Not disconnect the battery with engine running (diodes will burn out)

in this picture to the left is my work in progress 6.5hp dual alternator charging system.
currently it only has one Delco 12-si 94 amp alternator (internal regulator). i have recently received the second short alternator mounting bracket. both stainless steel. the neat thing about the internal regulator is that the field exciter is switched so battery/load can be removed with the engine running. down side is if not switched off it will drain the battery, with a One Wire alternator the engine can be left to just run out of gas

the Epicenter has instructions on how to, before listing items which can be DIY, they are also BBB accredited. Notice in the first link the Dual alternator setup 12v and a 24v.
More Home made generator projects!
Building your own generator.
Building a high power AC/DC generator system!
Convert a lawn mower into a generator!

Yup, alternator's can also be modified to weld. Engine RPM controls the output doing so, and a rheostat can be added to control the field input current to fine tune for even TIG welding. Lots more for me to learn or just spring for the $800 plus for a pre-made unit (ZENA). ZENA also has some awesome high output alternators (100 percent duty cycle).

EDIT: also 1 hp is recommended for every 25 amps of alternator output at 100 percent load.

I am surprised an automotive alternator puts out 115 VAC and gets regulated down to near battery charging level. I would have figured it closer to say 17 VAC at full field strength. I will try to review the links this weekend and heal my ignorance (or put some salve on it so it quits itching for a while.)

 

[jmurray01]

Pretty hard to find an outlet for a charger many times, so to say I am 100% correct is not always right. And how many of us carry a charger around? So far I have not seen anything about how much a charge jump starting puts back into a low battery, although one member said it's a good idea to connect the two batteries together for a period of time and let the good battery charge the run down one.

Problem is, in the very rare cases I have asked a stranger to help me jump start my vehicle (once in the last 25 years) I pretty much hate to ask them to stick around an extra 5 or 10 minutes.

I have my trusty 4AMP charger in my garage at all times in case the battery dies at home, and if it doesn't, I carry my Battery Booster in the trunk to jump start it, but luckily, the only flat batteries I've had so far have been at home, so I've been able to use my charger rather than the booster.

 

[Soundguy]

i carry a jump pack in my f450 'toy hauler' not so much for the diesel.. but for any 'toys' that may need a jump to trailer them. the jump box has a plug in 1a charger to charge the jump pack. If you leave the jump pack paralleled to the batter and plugged in.. it works as a 1a harger. slow.. but works.. otherwise jump pack has a tire inflator, led work lamp and a 12v power outlet.. kinda handy..

soundguy