Typical voltage regulator on an automotive alternator will provide 13.6 to 13.8 volts when the engine is running. As the batteries get charged up, which happens pretty quickly for a starting battery, the internal resistance of the battery will increase and the voltage will drop below 13.5.
The voltage pretty well matches what is needed for a flooded battery. If you have a gel battery the mismatch is less critical because the battery is usually charged above 95% or so - unlike the batteries on a boat that get deeply discharged. Rick Brass Sent from my iPad > On May 6, 2014, at 11:54, via CnC-List <[email protected]> wrote: > > At the risk of beating a dead horse (battery), I have one more question for > the list. > > When the average sailboat engine is running, what is the likely charging > voltage to the battery or batteries? > > Unless one has an alternator output controller which matches the recommended > voltages for the batteries being > charged, it seems that they would be charged with whatever voltage the > alternator supplies. > > If this is the case, and if one rarely charges the battery(s) at the dock, it > seems a little pointless to > fret over what the voltage profile the battery charger provides, since the > batteries are likely charged mostly > when the engine is running without such a controller. > > > > Charlie Nelson > Water Phantom > > [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > [email protected]
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