Alternator connection

[Chris_Robb]

That's fine. Most people don't have adjustable regulators though, and believe the Sterling hype.

I think he has always called them "boosters". Initially no alternators produced 14.4V so he was not misleading then.
But now, yes he should be clearer. Adverc certainly were.

Adverc (much nicer people) have put together the package of a properly regulated alternator (13.8V) with their charge regulator providing a proper solution.

It seems a shame that you get threads on here that say -" don't bother with a controller as modern alternators put out 14.4V". I Feel that just cannot be right, and if I was doing a 24 hour motor with such a system, I would not be happy about what was happening to the batteries - especially sealed ones.

I may of course be totally wrong in my conclusion.........

 

[pvb]

It seems a shame that you get threads on here that say -" don't bother with a controller as modern alternators put out 14.4V". I Feel that just cannot be right, and if I was doing a 24 hour motor with such a system, I would not be happy about what was happening to the batteries - especially sealed ones.

I may of course be totally wrong in my conclusion.........

There are thousands and thousands of taxis and vans which tolerate that charging regime quite happily.

 

[Chris_Robb]

There are thousands and thousands of taxis and vans which tolerate that charging regime quite happily.

Yes, I know - my own Passat charges at 14.8 on a sealed battery, but they are using amps all the time are they not? Battery lasted 3 years so not good, as never discharged.

 

[pvb]

Yes, I know - my own Passat charges at 14.8 on a sealed battery, but they are using amps all the time are they not? Battery lasted 3 years so not good, as never discharged.

The power being used is supplied by the alternator. The battery just sits there with 14.8v applied to it.

 

[catmandoo]

I must have missed that thread, as I have always been concerned, rightly or wrongly, that charging batteries continuously once charged at 14.4V might be harmful in the long term, hence why I installed a sterling so that it would float charge when fully charged.

Anyway - you are where you are, and now the main thing is to get your voltage at the batteries to reach 14.4V ie the same as the voltage off the back of the alternator. You can always add a controller later if you need to.

Give my regards to Ruari and Vicky (I can never spell it).

I think I knackered my system by installing a new alternator in a sterling system with out realising that the regulator was set at 14.6 Volts in the first place . Got a nasty shock when the system started climbing from that point there on until it shut itself off due to high voltage


regulator setting not always advertised in suppliers literature . You have to ask