25 Amp Charging system Check

[Cisco82]

Hi there,
after two years my batteries are out of service ... It is pretty strange considering i keep them disconnected when i dont use the truck and they should work for 3/4 years at least (i used Exide EB450 that is the most similar European battery compared to the size of the original one).

However i was wondering if i have a problem with my 25 Amp Generator - Regulator system and i d like to test the charging current in order to understand i have a overcharging / low charging problem.

I ve checked the manual and it require a lots of special electrical tools.... i was wondering if there is a simple system to check it , maybe connected a volmeter to the batteries and checking the tension at different positions .. maybe idle (with and without lights) , full throttle (with and without lights) and so on ...

Could you give me a suggestion?

Thanks in advance

F

[Mark]

It should be around 28 volts when connecting a voltmeter to both batteries.

[rickf]

You can check the generator and regulator with a voltmeter. Engine off batteries should read around 24.8 volts for fully charged batteries. Engine running at idle it should still read at least 24 volts but possible that it may show less since at idle the generator sometimes is not spinning fast enough to charge. idle with headlights on will about always show 12 volts and dropping for the same reason. Bring the rpm up a little off of idle and the charge rate will come up accordingly. At fast idle you should be seeing 28 volts.

Now, with all of that said, you need to be aware that batteries will self discharge if not maintained on a trickle charger. You say you disconnect them but for how long? I don't know what is available in Europe but look for a "Battery maintainer". Most people say to use a 24 volt maintainer but I tend to disagree with that for the main reason that if one of your batteries starts to go bad then the other one, being in series, will get extra charge and will overcharge. This is the same issue with using one battery to power 12 volt accessories. Charging 24 volts across two 12 volt batteries assumes both batteries are perfectly balanced. There is nothing you can do about that scenario with the vehicle charging system BUT, you can use two 12 volt maintainers, one for each battery. This guarantee's that each battery is equally held at full charge. You HAVE to hook the maintainers up to the individual terminals of the battery you are charging, positive wire to positive terminal and negative wire to negative terminal of the battery involved. DO NOT USE A COMMON GROUND!!! The chargers can be hardwired this way and left in place so all you do is plug them in when sitting at rest.

[Cisco82]

Thanks Rick, i ll follow your suggestion relevant o charging system test.

For your info i usually disconnect the ground when i stop the truck , i usually drive it on weekend but during winter time it can remain at home even for few weeks ...

It happens the same with my others vehicles (bike, tractors..) and never had a battery out of service after two years it is the reason why i was wondering if i have a charging problem.

Thanks

F

[rickf]

Newer batterie are crap compared to those from 20 years ago. I have the same issue here. Where I used to get 5 years bare minimum I am only seeing 3-4 years on most anymore. I don't know if it is the different chemicals used or if it is a manufactured obsolescence. I hate conspiracy theories but I doubt that the chemicals are the answer. AGM batteries are the way to go but I simply cannot afford to go that route when all of my vehicles use two batteries each (4 vehicles) plus my genset is 2 more and my tractor is one more. I am battery poor!!!!! We will not even talk about diesel fuel for all of those, I know you are really suffering in that department.

[Cisco82]

Home made slave cable for emergency and charging batteries without removing cover and connectors , i know it is not the best way (charging two 12 v batteries with 24 v system ) but it is simple and it can be used as emergency as well. I used a standard 25 mm2 battery emergency cable and a NATO plug , it works good.

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[rickf]

It has worked for 60 years for the military, but you have to remember, they don't have to pay for their batteries. But if you buy two new batteries at the same time then you have a balanced set and you should be good for many years. Keep a battery maintainer on their when it is sitting for long periods unused and they should last many years. Or like I said before, spring for thee expensive AGM batteries and you can get 10 years out of them.

[svramselaar]

hi

take a look below

https://www.radionerds.com/images/c/cb/ ... 750-33.pdf


george