RangeRoller dt
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Bout time you had one
Voltage Regulator
- Thread starter romanrob
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DT - I'm not sure of your part code, but the mobiletron link is here https://www.mobiletron.co.uk/MobCAT to check if the one you have was mis-advertised, or is faulty... I guess as well the alternator could just be failing to provide sufficient output to allow the regulator to hit it's target voltage - I haven't really though about it hard enough. My 100A alternator is doing 14.3/14.4 rather than actually 14.7V, but it's 20+ years old, so I forgive it.
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I got the one from Alan's link and it gives 14.5V. i seem to recall too high a set point wasn't good for old lead batteries, not that anyone has them any more.
Datatek
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I'd be happy with 14.3/14.4, I can't remember if the alternator is 120 or 140 amp, but a 3.8 amp smart charger can raise the battery voltage to 14.8 so I doubt lack of alternator output is the problem but worth checking.
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14.5 should be fine with Calcium/Antimony batteries full Calcium need nearer to 15 volts or more. Calcium batteries were introduced by Ford in the mid eighties, battery retailers soon found out they did not need as much maintenance charging in storage as lead/acid so they became popular. Unfortunately nobody told Joe public that his 13.8 volt system would sulphate them up PDQ and render them useless. Because they never got fully charged. Full calcium batteries are even more prone to fail with low charge rate.
Datatek
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As I recall GM Vauxhall/Opel were the first in the UK, I'll have to fine my file on it, they had a slick marketing name for the batteries at the time.
dubbleRR
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Iv got a couple o solar chargers ...,Now nothing special but the cheaper one puts out 0.5 amps ,but in good sun light its 17,to 18 volts would that be enough to de sulphur a calcium battery just a thought ,My other solar charger is at its best 4 amp ,never checked the voltage ,I use it to keep a charge in the caravan ,the cheaper ones in the shed topping up starter packs and the likes .Had a smart charger once lasted just past the grantee , too expensive for what it did could have bought two good battery's .....RR..
would that be enough to de sulphur a calcium battery just a thought ,My other solar charger is at its best 4 amp ,never checked the voltage ,I use it to keep a charge in the caravan ,the cheaper ones in the shed topping up starter packs and the likes .Had a smart charger once lasted just past the grantee , too expensive for what it did could have bought two good battery's .....RR..
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Iv got a couple o solar chargers ...,Now nothing special but the cheaper one puts out 0.5 amps ,but in good sun light its 17,to 18 volts
You need a proper maintenance charger that varies the voltage in cycles. Good ones are not cheap.
dubbleRR
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But the voltage is varied with good or poor sun light
... ..My smart charger packed in ,light came on but no one was homeIv a charger that's about 40 years old or more and charges everything to a degree prob not the best for modern battery's but it still works,new fan dangle stuff is crap nowadays ......RR.
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But the voltage is varied with good or poor sun light
Ok carry on you know best. You need a special charger to desulphate calcium batteries simple as that. Even then it may not work depending how bad they are.
Datatek
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You can get a smart solar charge controller for £6Iv got a couple o solar chargers ...,Now nothing special but the cheaper one puts out 0.5 amps ,but in good sun light its 17,to 18 volts
Datatek
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The Lidl smart chargers do that and they are cheap.
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The Lidl smart chargers do that and they are cheap.
Please note i said GOOD ones are not cheap.
Datatek
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Ctek are a rip off they do nothing more than the Lidl ones do, even in some cases using the same chip set.Please note i said GOOD ones are not cheap.
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Who mentioned Ctek?
dubbleRR
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NEVER said i know best ,If a battery's fect id buy a new one ID NOT buy a smart charger to to save an old battery ,For the price of a good smarte ud get 2 1000 cca battery's new ,My old charger tops up all ,might not be the best but it works...How often does someone realy need to save an old battery l....Watched a bunch of guys on the telly in India put lots of car ,truck battery's together ,throw two bits of wire over a live power line n watch them boil back to life .....I find that battery's live just past the guarantee,if you get 3 years out of one your doing well....RR.
,If a battery's fect id buy a new one ID NOT buy a smart charger to to save an old battery ,For the price of a good smarte ud get 2 1000 cca battery's new ,My old charger tops up all ,might not be the best but it works...How often does someone realy need to save an old battery l....Watched a bunch of guys on the telly in India put lots of car ,truck battery's together ,throw two bits of wire over a live power line n watch them boil back to life .....I find that battery's live just past the guarantee,if you get 3 years out of one your doing well....RR.
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NEVER said i know best
Ok go out and buy yourself a brand new full calcium battery for your DSE charging at 13.8 volts and see how long it lasts.
Datatek
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A smart charger from Lidl or Aldi costs about £18, I leave one connected all the time on the project P38 as I have not got a solar panel for that one. Certainly cheaper than a new battery and it prolongs the life of a new battery.NEVER said i know best
dubbleRR
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Yea i know ,my battery's on the rangee last about 30 months ,my wife's car ,6 years and still on the same battery it cam with But in my cars defense iv never had to change a light bulb in ten years ,except two indicator bulbs which still worked but were not yellow enough
,,,Now iv often though about changing my alternator reg to a higher output,but these things have more computing bits than an Apollo moon mission ,....Now im just asking ,do you think higher volts would damage ecu;s ect...........RR.
RangeRoller dt
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