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    Re: Charging System Questions? Archived Message

    Posted by Dave Hill on August 16, 2009, 8:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Charging System Questions?"

    Thank you Gentlemen.

    Tony


    """"Who in their right mind would want to start a car up, with the heater plugs on, and turn on the HRW, Heated front and rear Screen, heater blower, etc and leave it ticking over. ??""""

    Errr ME Only for testing purposes though!

    Seriously though, that was the kind of opinion that I was hoping for (not the intoxicated aspect but the info .

    I wouldn't normally scope amps either (Alternator or Glow plugs), but for the sake of an informative post I wanted to see the important bits!

    After seeing quite few motors recently exhibiting the same characteristics, I just wanted the reassurance from a few respected auto electricians (But you will do for now Tony )

    Steve

    """"Something also to bear in mind is that if an alternator is providing max charge at low rpm then it stands the risk of overheating as the airflow through it may be insufficient to cool it.""""

    That is an excellent point & not something I would have considered.

    I often explain to customers who are struggling to grasp the subject of battery condition, by using the analogy.... that a car battery is like a bank account. If you keep dipping into the reserves without putting enough back, then eventually you become overdrawn.

    Anyway, the next morning I went to do some more tests & the battery wouldn't start the motor. So I fitted a new one & performed the same tests. The only real difference I noted, was that the battery light went out & charging commenced imediatly upon start-up.

    When I showed the wavedforms to the customer, he was shocked to see the glow plug duration at 3 minutes or so & he aknowledged that he hadnted realised that they were still powered when he measured battery voltage.

    His parting comment to me was that... "Looks like the AA guy may have called it wrong then! )

    Thanks for the input fellas, I appreciate it.

    Cheers

    Dave

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