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Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2007 14:58:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Deep cycle batteries, voltage regulators, and eating cake
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007080617301679@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Get a magnet and check the crimped on battery to alternator or any other crimped on lug type connector to make sure it's not steel.

Most all aftermarket FLAPS battery cables have copper plated steel lugs which will rust.

Steel BTW has 50 times less electrical conductivity than copper.

Rule this out first beforee preoceeding. There is something that is reducing your output after it leaves the alternator.

A bad battery can also give you low readings.

Robert

1982 Westfalia

--- Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

> OK, tests in. There's a voltage drop all along > the way, but grounds are good. > > At Alt, no load 14.15 vdc > At Alt, loaded 14.03 vdc > Alt to ground, same readings > > At vehicle battery, across terminals, no load > 13.73-75 vdc (.42 drop) > Vehicle battery, across terminals, loaded, > 12.82-85 vdc (1.21 vdc drop) > Vehicle battery to ground, no significant > difference > > At aux battery across terminals, no load, 13.17 > vdc (.58 drop from vehicle > battery, .98 from alt.) > Aux battery across terminals, loaded, 12.32-39 > vdc (.5 drop from vehicle > battery, 1.71 from alt.) > Aux battery to ground, no difference. > > > The worst problem here is what I suspected, a > more than 1.5 volt drop > between alternator under load and aux battery > under load. The more you load > it, the worse it gets. (I was using high beams, > AC, and fridge.) > > This is with the stock 23 year-old wiring and > relays, but upgrades to > grounds. I doubt if any battery set-up would > work right given these conditions. > > Any idea what an acceptable voltage drop would > be using new 6 AWG wire and a > new OEM-type relay? It seems like ideally, you > could get 13.8vdc at the aux > battery under load--but how likely is that to > happen? >

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