The Ford Barn - View Single Post - OT: "An Alternator is a Battery Maintainer, -NOT a Battery Charger."

Patrick L. · 05-13-2020, 03:04 PM

The same with an alternator. An alternator is basically an AC generator. The diode bridge changes the AC to DC. Without regulation of either generator or alternator output the battery can be overcharged.
One difference is that a generator will charge on a dead battery where an alternator will not. A generator is or can act as a motor. An alternator can't and needs electricity supplied to it to be able to charge.
That doesn't do anything for the OP though does it. Isn't a battery 'maintainer' also a charger ? Every one I've had or known of is. A maintainer charges at a low rate and then somehow is able to remain connected and add a bit of charge only when needed. Thats my take on this anyway. Tell if I'm wrong and convince me differently.

05-13-2020, 03:04 PM	#14
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: OT: "An Alternator is a Battery Maintainer, -NOT a Battery Charger." The same with an alternator. An alternator is basically an AC generator. The diode bridge changes the AC to DC. Without regulation of either generator or alternator output the battery can be overcharged. One difference is that a generator will charge on a dead battery where an alternator will not. A generator is or can act as a motor. An alternator can't and needs electricity supplied to it to be able to charge. That doesn't do anything for the OP though does it. Isn't a battery 'maintainer' also a charger ? Every one I've had or known of is. A maintainer charges at a low rate and then somehow is able to remain connected and add a bit of charge only when needed. Thats my take on this anyway. Tell if I'm wrong and convince me differently.