If the alternator is properly and fully charging the battery, when a charger is hooked up, will it show the battery to be already fully charged, or will it try to provide additional charging anyway?
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Re: Alternator vs. battery charger
If the voltage setpoint of the alternator and charger are the same then theoretically the charger will not "add" charge. If the voltage is different then there will be current flow until the voltage is equal between the charging device and the battery. -
Depends...
on the design of the battery charger. Most of the 'old' charges simply delivered a fixed output voltage with max current flow based on where you set the charger's operating dial. These units 'can' over-charge a battery if left connected for extended periods of time.
Think of the charging task in terms of filling a bucket with water. In order to get water into the bucket, you have have to pour it from a height that's ABOVE the bucket. That's voltage. The charging source HAS to have a voltage level higher than the battery's native voltage level for current to flow into the battery...
Now, MANY of today's battery chargers have some degree of 'intelligence' built into them with some designs being VERY smart. These 'smart' battery chargers output current at a given voltage level (still ABOVE that of the battery) for a fixed time interval, then stop charging. Then, they measure the battery voltage, and repeat the charging cycle. They automatically STOP charging when they sense the battery's voltage has plateaued and sit waiting for the battery voltage to drop below its fully charged voltage plateau.
With intelligent chargers like these, you can't 'overcharge' a battery and you can leave them connected for extended periods of time. So, to answer the question you have to know something about the design aspects of the particular battery charger you're using...Comment
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