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Date:         Wed, 23 Apr 1997 18:23:27 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Diebolt <jdiebolt@up.net>
Subject:      RE: Rebuilt alternator for my 91 Carat

>I have always wondered about this. They should charge at anything over 13.2 >volts, but I assumed there was some "breakover" voltage that was applied >in excess of the 13.2. I, too, have seen cars running at 14 volts and above, >batteries bubbling away. What are the factors in this choice? Does increasing >the voltage above 13.2v decrease the charge time? At what voltage will the >the battery start overcharging? > >Anybody know the best voltages for maintaining a charge without overcharging, >for quick-charging a battery, and for daily driving?

Batteries will charge at any where from 12 to 15.5 volts. But you are right about the implications of higher charging. A way we used to condemn batteries was to put a heavy charge to them and if they went above 15.5 volts the battery is suspect to being bad. If you use a maintenance free battery you don't want to charge it at a higher rate because you could boil out some of the acid. A 13.5 volt charge is good to keep the battery alive. You can charge it at 14.5 volts but keep an eye on the fluid. HTH

Greetings from Michigan's Upper Peninsula Jeff & Jean-Marie Diebolt mailto:jdiebolt@up.net


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