Installing the alternator on a car with a low battery just means the alternator has to work hard to charge the battery. But this is no different than if you left your headlights on, had to jump start the car and then drove until the alternator charged the battery. The alternator is supposed to do this anyway. Now some electronics geek (like me) will probably say that the brushes need to seat before you pull a full load off the alternator. They will be seated well enough and no harm will be done. Tom www.kegkits.com
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Bill MacLachlan Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 11:41 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: alternator installation Hi all List wisdom & experience needed: I'm installing a new alternator. Label on the new alternator says have the battery fully charged before hooking up the alternator. My battery is low. How critical is the warning? Do I have to dig out the trickle charger and recharge the battery first? thanks Bill M 82 GL I4 |
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