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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 168
Shade Tree Mechanic
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OP
Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 168 |
As mentioned in another topic, we went out for a drive the other night. I noticed that with my headlights on the volt meter was reading 0 volts most of the time. If I shut the lights off it would come back to its usual day time reading. Is this OK? What reading should I expect from this system ( standard 6 volt) when the lights are on?
Thanks, Tim.
He who ignores the rudder answers to the rocks. When Fear advances, Logic retreats. I could go on...
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 130
Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 130 |
Tim
If its not broke don't fix it.
Leave it alone that what it is supose to do.
The day time reading sould be around 10 and will drop to 0 for night driving. If you up the charge it will cook the battery during the day time running.
If you need to watch a gauge look at the oil and the Temp otherwise watch the road and enjoy the view.
Dave
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11,162
ChatMaster - 10,000
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ChatMaster - 10,000
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11,162 |
Tim, Twin 4 is my kind of a guy, He has some very sage advise, Watch the road, enjoy the view. When I was young I would tell my dad about a strange occurance, which he understood was due to something I was doing. I was always wanting to put something on the car to "soup it up" He kept harping to me, "Just keep oil and water in it, watch the oil pressure and temp, it won't hurt a durn thing if it runs out of gas, you will just have to walk, and Watch where you are going, and DRIVE THE CAR" Later my primary flight instructor said almost the same thing "Fly The airplane!, Fly the airplane!"
Life's a long winding trail, love Jesus and ride a good horse!
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64
ChatMaster - 15,000
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ChatMaster - 15,000
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 19,758 Likes: 64 |
Tim,
You are actually reading amps on the meter. It is the current flow going into the battery. With the lights on the total output from the generator is going to operate the vehicle and none is going into the battery. That is ok as long as you don't drive too many hours or the battery discharge is not too great.
It is also a good idea to drive with the lights on in the day time if you are on a long drive. All you need to do is replace the power used to start the car.
If you continue to try to put 10 amps into the battery when it is fully charged all you do is drive water out and lower the service life of the battery. Modern cars have a voltage regulator that cuts back the generator charging rate when the battery gets close to fully charged.
How Sweet the roar of a Chevy four!
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 39
Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 39 |
Tim, watch the road, the best advice. Especially aroung Kalgoorlie.............
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 20
Grease Monkey
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Grease Monkey
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 20 |
i agree its always a good idea to keep your lights on during the day ive always set the gen on the 26 to charge just a little with lights on just dont set it up too much check your battery if its boiling out back off the charge rate
alan
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 11,162
ChatMaster - 10,000
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ChatMaster - 10,000
Joined: Dec 2001
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hey guys, when we are touring the old cars I blow my horn at the kids waveing to us. and that keeps the battery from boiling dry! Yeah!  "THE DRIVE FRIENDLY STATE!"  
Life's a long winding trail, love Jesus and ride a good horse!
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 168
Shade Tree Mechanic
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OP
Shade Tree Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 168 |
Thanks Guys, You confirmed my hunch that if it was showing a charge with the lights off that it was fine.
Tim.
He who ignores the rudder answers to the rocks. When Fear advances, Logic retreats. I could go on...
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