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An alternator has a circuit that measures the voltage in the battery and 
controls the current to the battery. This is the same circuit that is 
found in battery "maintainers", solar panel controllers and DC 
converters in RV's. Most likely there was feedback into this circuit 
from the solar charger and it damaged a component in the alternator. The 
blown fuse should have been a clue. After that the alternator was not 
measuring the voltage in the battery correctly or it was not shutting 
off the current when it should have. At any rate it was over charging.

If the mechanic only checked the alternator output - it looked fine.

Truman

terre wrote:
>     I have been using a solar charger (the fold-out-set-on-dashboard 
> type) to recharge my batteries at rides.  Last spring, someone moved 
> my truck while I was riding without disconnecting the solar charger.  
> By late that night (it was a 100), the battery was pretty much dead, 
> and running the truck wouldn't recharge it.  When I got home, I found 
> a blown fuse; replaced it and the truck would once again recharge the 
> battery... However, this incident was the beginning of a long series 
> of electrical 'glitches'.  Battery going dead while sitting for a 
> short time, etc.  Replaced the battery.  Same story with the new battery.
>     Turned out that the truck's alternator was malfunctioning, in 
> spite of the fact the dashboard 'trouble lights' weren't coming on, 
> and the mechanics diagnostics said the alternator was ok.  I've been 
> told that this is similar to hooking up incorrectly when boosting from 
> another vehicle; it can damage the charging vehicles alternator.  Does 
> that sound correct?  If so, it's a cautionary tale--if you have the 
> solar charger hooked up, disconnect it before starting your 
> truck....and hide the keys from your friends!
>
> terre
>
>
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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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