Date:         Mon, 21 Jul 2003 13:32:38 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve W <croatoa@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve W <croatoa@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon alternator too weak for Optimas.
In-Reply-To:  <20030721194257.40226.qmail@web12202.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Phil,
I like to think of the battery as a container
that holds electricity.  Anything over the
no-load battery volage will pump electricity into
the battery and anything lower drain it out.  My
batteries tend to measure around 12.4 V or 12.5 V
with no load if I remember right.  If your's is
12.7 then it would be slowly storing electricity.
 You mentioned fixing a problem but you didn't
mention the problem.  If your vehicle's stuff
works okay, starts and goes okay you really don't
have a low voltage problem.  Slowly storing
electricity can be a problem if ones does alot of
short trips since it takes alot of juice to run
the starter.  If it won't start after an extended
storage you may be better off with a trickle
charger.

As for the 14.5V killing a normal battery that is
partially true.  The faster the battery is asked
to store electricity the hotter it gets so
anything but a short stay at higher voltages can
heat it up and short it internally.  Also, when a
battery is fully charged or charged to fast the
extra current can boil off the electrolyte and
give off hydrogen gas which is explosive and if
the plates inside are not covered in electrolyte
they can't work as well.

The bottom line is, I believe, if it works it's
cool.  Trickle chargers are great for
storage.(http://www.vdcelectronics.com/surechargeiv.htm)
is a trickle charger I use and I get no money
from them.  High voltages for any extended period
of time will boil off the fluid and perhaps
structurally damage the battery.  And finally,
check the fluid level in ones battery at each oil
change.

Good luck,
Steve W
1987 Jetta 2 door - The primary car
1986 BMW 535i - The emergency backup car and date
car.
1983 - Westy Camper - Getting an engine and
getting ready for OSU tailgating.
1981 - VW Diesel Rabbit - Could become the
primary car if things work out
1980 - VW Diesel Pickup - Needs alot of work.

--- "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> i read in the archives that Optima does NOT
> recommend
> anything less than a 15 volt alternator output,
> if
> this is true, then we are all undercharging our
> optimas becouse the vanagon's Alt charges
> around
> 13-14V. Even MORE confusing is that the battery
> guy
> told me any charge over 14.5 volts will destroy
> 12v
> batterys. Wha?
> Optimas
> FAQ:http://www.optimabatteries.com/faq.asp#q7
>  Would a LARGER alt help, or does the alt's
> voltage
> regulator get in the way? Please correct my
> figures
> as i am also repeating what the battery guy
> told me.
>
> Also My alternator is charging around 12.7v
> under
> load...the battree guy tells me i should be
> around
> 13-13.5(tested with stereo/headlights on at
> 2000RPM's)
> He says my Alt is too weak, especially when i
> have the
> stereo on, fan, headlights and auxillary
> battery
> connected via a big relay switch. Apparently
> all this
> stuff is hogging precious juice from my
> batterys. He
> told me a bigger alternator would fix my
> problem. So
> anyone know where i can buy a larger amp
> alternator
> that might fit the Tiico bracket/pulleys? i
> found this
> alternator described as being higher output, at
> lower
> RPM's it at:
>
http://www.amplepower.com/products/alt/index.html
> its chromed and looks ex$pen$ive.
>
>
> Thanks
> Phil 84' Westy w/ Tiico
>
>
>
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=====
Steve
croatoa@yahoo.com

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