The Third Brush

[MrTube]

I've noticed in a few posts people mentioning adjusting the generator for whatever load you expect, such as driving at night, or i'd assume a dead vs near fully charged battery.

I'm curious how to do this and how to insure you do not cook the battery. I would assume you adjust for just above 0 on your ammeter if your battery is near fully charged? So If I throw on the headlights at nigh I would adjust the generator so my ammeter is reading just above the zero at a decent rpm?


Thanks,

Chris J.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

My method is to set it to about + 2 amps with the headlights on (I have the direct fit halogen bulbs from classic and vintage bulbs), works out to 13-14 amps, then depending on my use, how long the car was sitting , how long I cranked it,etc,I will turn on the lights in daytime.

When I was using 50 cp bulbs I would crank the adjustment almost all the way to drive at night(18+)--dangerous for generator.

I have never used a battery tender, have always had good battery life (7-9 years for regular batterys, 14 and still going for Optima) ---so it works for me.

There are several different voltage regulators on the market, and they work somewhat different, I tink that one of them just wastes the excess to ground, and some cut back the feed from the 3rd brush ---Tom can help with the methods, he will probably chime in about the reg he makes.

I just go with the "seat of the pants" method using my lights to limit the charge.

there is an article in the service bulltins about adjusting the charge rate by monitoring the battery state of charge ---but it is more revelant to daily drivers, cars that sit long times can have a higher charge rate , then if you go on a long trip you can cut back the rate---or add load to keep the battery from overcharging.

If 90% of your driving is during daylight you can have a low charge rate, and not worry that you are in the - at night, it will be recharged the next day.