How to charge your battery to 100% from the car

This works.

Ian from RV Powerstream shared this with me.

Under normal circumstances once your start battery is full the alternator goes to sleep. Hence you are only getting a trickle from your alternator to your auxillary battery. By turning your headlights on whilst driving, some load is placed on the alternator, kicking it back into action.

Given that a pair of headlights on low beam draws 10 amps max, and modern alternators put out 50+ there is plenty to spare.

Now for the proof that it works. I drove bush last week, starting out with my battery showing 12.3 volts. Trip took 1.5 hours and travelling with lights on.

After we arrived I left the fridge running for an hour to wipe out any surface charge. Then switched the fridge off to let things settle and got a reading of 12.8.

The battery is an AGM, so I cannot testify to this theory with a wet cell. But I would assume it would benefit a wet cell as well.

Anyway, great tip, thanks Ian.

Jim.

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