cooked batteries

You heard !

Wheres your table, web links and facts to back up your claim.

Utter crap !

From what I understand the 14.8 volts is the maximum permissable charge voltage as stated on the calcium/calcium battery.
Headlights or any other load is not required as that is what a regulator is for , it stops chargeing when the voltage gets to a specified level.
If you are dead keen you can make a variable regulator to suit your particular needs.
When I was a kid interstate busses always had their headlights on (company policy) I believe it was the volvo theory of safe to be seen as even with old generators, the regulator (mechanical) would still function the same and cut charge at the specified voltage. The oldies were adjustable which were great.

Dave L.

I got a Optima deep cycle for the work battery

You're a bit hasty calling anything "utter crap" until YOU can prove otherwise, Derek. In fact, the Discovery (at least the D2) comes with a calcium battery as standard and the alternator charges at a higher voltage than for a normal lead-acid battery. I know - a year or so ago my original Disco battery died and the road service fitted a normal lead-acid. I was a bit doubtful so did the research and found that a calcium battery IS necessary for the Disco - a normal battery would suffer an early death due to the high charging voltage.

I had web references at the time.

As a "battery expert" I hope you haven't fitted any normal lead-acid batteries to Discos as they will be coming back to haunt you.

Stephen.

The original thread refers to a Landcruiser, it then changes to Land Rover with no reference to make, model, year. (Colour LOL :-0 ).

That is where I say crap.

There is a range of alternators fitted over a range of years and to generalize like that is crap.

Calcium batteries were not born when Land Rovers were !

You Stephie at least refer to a D2 with the problematic alternator that wears out the rear casing and idler pulleys on the rib belt.

Don't assume what I know. You may just make an ass of u and not me.

Derek.

Derek,

Just maybe you know what you're talking about - but you're coming across as a right smart arse - and you know how much people put up with smart arses...

Tone it down mate, and I'm sure we can all share this space

Member Ivan [ACT] [typical]
That was not a nice way to post a message on the site, If i came over to as a right smart a*** then so be it, I'm 62 years old,over the years i listen and learn and then pass what i learn onto others when they ask as Derek did and was grateful to gain some info, seems you have a lot in life to learn , as for toneing down i fail to see what i did wrong other than to answer Qs and etc , is it not what this site is all about.

Member Ivan [ACT]
Sorry i read it wrong i thought you were aiming at me , Still not good ethics mate.

See ya

Good thinking Rock Crawler but being a pilot car lights are on all day and didn't help , i had fumes coming and steam coming from a CAT battery at Barcaldine, Thanks anyhow mate, problem was fixed very simple.3 wires go into the Alternator, don't know where the white wire comes from but it sends message to the regulator , WANT MORE, WANT MORE , hey you got kids, well like them eh, anyhow i was told by the sparky to cut the white wire 6" from the terminal and loop it back onto the main pole , presto no more troubles, now i betcha someone will say i will get flat batteries , well 3 months down the track and have good healthy non fuming batteries.

Doug,

Been a pilot many years ago, know the load all the pretty lights put on electrical systems.

Your solution has me puzzled. If I understand correctly what you are saying, then you have disabled the regulator by cutting the white wire. Or by looping the white wire back to the main pole are you getting the alternator to run at max voltage all the time? This doesn't sound right.

If the regulator is faulty, why not replace it? Sorry if I'm missing something. What happens to your batteries when you are running 'empty' coming back home again without the christmas tree turned on??

I do not know what I am talking about here, so am happy to be corrected, but I thought the regulators simply regulated voltage, so you could replace your external regulator with a solid state unit. If you want to go really flash there are some expensive three stage alternator regulators designed for marine use that would be designed to control your high output alternator.

This thread has got all antsy for some reason, I'm just trying to understand the problem and the solution and why it works.

Regards
Tim

Hi Derek
No crap mate, have reciepts for all the 3 batteries i bought, latest victim was a maintenance free CAT , this Alternator is a heavy duty job running 14.2 all the time, just that regulater wasn't regulating and when one pays $650 for an alternator you expect things to be ok , well it was , alternator was only doing what it was told ,I typed a short explanation is in Rock Crawlers follow upr above yours, It's been hummin along like a bee ever since, no more dash lights flashing on and off when i get over 2000rpm, that used to happen when the batteries were low after all night fridge/fan/mozzie zapper/radio/ etc

Hi Steve M
This Alternater i got sure isn't standard, when i purchased the car it had 106000 on it by Telstra, after sometime i replaced the original with same at i think about $86 down at Rocklea .that one didn't last long either so got one here in Mt Isa $549 That was ruined 12 months later by a dead short in a cable under the battery carrier. remnants of Telstra but the cable runs right down to the rear of the vehicle and is handy, bout as thick as a BIC ballpoint,.....[well not as thick as me] LOL anyhow the replacement alternater cost more at $650 ,far from standard,anyhow its charging an OPTIMA yellow top and a normal Century and all systems are GO , they either work or not , if they play me up out they go , i have no time for problems , About the Solar issue , ive had ppl tell me i will need panels to help run all the stuff i use well ive not needed any yet after 3 years doing what i do.If anything I'd get one of those little gen sets if i could find one NOT MADE IN CHINA, i hate the crap they make.,anyhow i better stop or Ivan the Terrible will be on me.

I meant the "standard" output of a car regulator ie voltage level, I should have been a bit more specific.

Steve

Ummm !MPG:4!

I at no time said the alternater was a Toyota problem , all i know is that i had the problem, no fault of any Auto Elect', I have receipts for 3 alternaters since ive had the car my car IS NOT a normally used car , its an Escort/Pilot vehicle or did you miss that point 2 days ago, it has to run extra lights all day,2 Rotating Ambers X 55W,2 Wig-Wags X 100W, 2 Headlights on Low beam , as well as fridge/radio's/A/C , Nah forget it Geoff , your not on my wavelength mate , as for my Batteries and charging system is all fine now CASE closed