Alternators and Charging Systems
Charging With an Engine Alternator
Read the following information to determine whether your vehicle’s standard alternator will be adequate by itself, whether you should install an alternator controller, or whether you need a
Using a Standard Vehicle Alternator
A typical engine alternator (12 volts) may not be able to meet the requirements outlined above if your system uses large capacity batteries. Alternators are typically rated for the current they can deliver when they are cold. When in use, alternators heat up, and their output current capability drops by as much as 25 percent. Therefore, standard alternators with ratings of 40 to 105 amps only deliver a maximum of 30 to 80 amps in actual use and deliver even less as battery voltage rises. Many alternators cannot produce more than 13.6 volts when they are hot. As a result, a standard alternator may not be able to charge a large battery quickly and completely.
Two solutions are to install an alternator controller or to install a high- output alternator.
Using a Multi-stage Alternator Regulator
If your existing alternator charger is inadequate, you should consider installing a
Using a High-Output Alternator
If the alternator charging is still inadequate after installing the XAR,
