Hi Volks, You might consider what voltage your battery "likes" to see when charging. Once again the BMW 246 motor has a miniscule 280W MAX alternator. With headlights and other stuff drawing current the regulator needed modification to provide the 14.1 VDC measured at the battery for optimum charging. Too low and you lose charge Too high and you overheat and "boil" the battery dry. Either way, operating near the design limits, can leave you in the dark when you press that starter button at zero dark thirty west of Austin NV on the lonliest road. Bumpstarting a 425lb moto in the gravel is out of the question. The battery manufacturers, Yuasa, Delco, Exide all provide specs to guide us to long battery life and useful service. I personally feel that 14.4 is a taste too high for PbCa batteries and high for normal lead acid (gel or otherwise). Research to follow. pensioner |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.