Argh............ Batteries not Charging

[pmagowan]

That certainly used to be the case. I think modern alternators are more tolerant, but may be wrong.

I think if there is some external regulator it can often save the alternator by collapsing the fields but unless something new I am not aware of the average alternator having this internally. My understanding (rudimentary) is that the voltage spike creates failure of the diodes if the charge current is not drained to battery. Of course risk and reality might be different.

 

[oldgit]

After over half a century of boating am now of the opinion that one only stops learning about any boat the day the new owner collects it.