Insurance Battery charging

[Johnp33]

If the unit will not come, after a while, to at least 13.8 then the alternator has either a bad diode or is just to small and it will damage the battery, sulfate it.

 

[jonyyuma]

Alternator charging circuits have been changed for some time now. The regulator has a microchip in it now to replace the old magnetic points and fields. Any small short or crossed cables and you have a chance of blowing the charging circuit. They are alot more reliable than the old types? Plus the chance of burning a diode or the recifier bridge?

 

[BobRip]

I agree with that and it only ran for long enough to detach and reattach the neg cable to the bettery. For my knowledge do you know the reason as to why not to run the motor, hence the alternator, without the battery connected? I remember as a kid my dad and others always saying to disconnect the battery momentarily as an alternator test.

My educated guess is electrical voltage spikes which could damage the alternator and any sensitive electronics components in the electrical system. This can happen very quickly. I need to do more research on this.

I did some research. The act of disconnecting and/or reconnecting the cable can generate spikes which can damage the alternator. You may get lucky, or not.

 

[nazbom2]

Good to know I will stop that practice as I don't need to be buying any parts unnecessarily and especially if it was my fault!