Topic: Winter teardown, "sigh"

[Dennis]

dennis,i think it may be that the charging system has to put out more amps when you are running lites than when you dont.

I was thinking that also, but when you look at the test setup, they are measuring the current into or out of the battery. Thyey are not checking the output of the alternator.

I'm still confused!   

[dusterdude]

dont worry dennis i stay confused

[SteveD CB500F]

There's a great response to this question somewhere from Lloyd TwoTired (I'll find it in a minute.)

The alternator output depends on revs not load.
The regulator "regulates" it so that the battery should charge at anything over tickover.

As you can see from the table, the regulator will try to maintain a battery terminal voltage of 14.5V whatever the conditions.