Black Panther 1,568 Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 If the engine is running and the alternator is alternating and I turn the fridge on will the smart regulator figure this out and send a few more amps down the pipeline or will it just take longer to get to full charge? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Probably close enough Lateral. The end result is as you have said.If you want a slightly more technical understanding though. In raw terms, an ALT is a Current producing device. A Battery is a load that offers a resistance to Voltage form the charging source, in our case, the ALT. As the Voltage rises above the batteries resting voltage, the resistance increases as seen by the charging source. The result is the ALT meets this resistance or Load, with amperage. The Voltage is a bit of a trick. In that the regulator is maintaining a set voltage via sensing/feedback of an exciter winding. This is in part because the ALT is a device that produces current in direct relation to the power that is put into it and the speed of rotation. So the output is varying and needs to be controlled. Also as the battery increases in charge, the resistance decreases and the load presented to the ALT reduces and the ALT no longer needs to produce the current. But the Voltage is maintained by the feedback. This is where the Smart regs come into play. they can raise the Voltage, thus raising the battery into a resistance area again and the load increases the current the ALT produces. This is where there is a difference between a smart reg on an ALT and a shorepower charger with multi step charging exists. A shore power device, if it is complex enough, can regulate both current and Voltage. So for example, Absorption and Equalization charging is carried out at upto as high as 17V, but the current is regulated to stop the battery from boiling. The higher voltage produces a lot of gas production on the plates and this stirs up the electrolyte. An ALT is a lot more difficult to control in that regard being that it is a raw Current producing device. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Myjane 40 Posted May 26, 2018 Share Posted May 26, 2018 Soon as the resistance drops the alternator kicks in ,as the fridge drinks juice the alternator bumps it back Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,568 Posted May 26, 2018 Author Share Posted May 26, 2018 Ok so in theory running stuff with engine on won't slow down the rate of charge? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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