>> My neighbor has a f-150 302 with a external voltage regulator only seems
>> to charge 13.50 volts.Also when he unplugs one of the batt. cables the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Spdloader
I hate to disagree, but the voltage spike that is introduced when a cable
carrying a large current is disconnected, can easily fry stuff.
Voltage on an inductive load = L(di/dt)
L = inductance, di/dt = rate of change of current, which
would be quite high when the cable is disconnected while the alternator
is charging the battery.

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David M (dmacchiarolo)
http://home.triad.rr.com/redsled
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bobby swift - 30 May 2004 03:31 GMT
I'm not gonna unplug my batt.cable while the truck is running
either...neighbor got his alternator at the junk yard...I told him he
should have got a regulator also... he cleaned the one he had said the
wires were really coroded... get my electrical parts at auto zone.I'll
keep yall up to date on what he finds out to be the problem.Thanks Bobby
Spdloader - 30 May 2004 16:15 GMT
Actually, you're not disagreeing David, I just didn't make myself clear.
The vehicle in question is an older Ford, with an EEC-IV type ignition.
A properly operating charging system doesn't need the battery to stay
running, just to start the vehicle, and supply power when the vehicle
isn't running for radio presets, clock, etc. On newer vehicles it
obviously does more, but that's not the question.
I don't condone disconnecting the battery while the vehicle is running,
but if it is done, and the vehicle shuts down, it was clearly running on
battery power and the alternator or voltage regulator was not doing it's
job. It's done quite often at the lake, with boats, dead battery,
borrowing another battery to get started, unhook it and then reconnect
your own to get it charged.
Later,
Spdloader
>>>My neighbor has a f-150 302 with a external voltage regulator only seems
>>>to charge 13.50 volts.Also when he unplugs one of the batt. cables the
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> would be quite high when the cable is disconnected while the alternator
> is charging the battery.