seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (D.A. Seifert) (09/24/84)
10-20 Amps from an alternator? I'd say *at least* 30, for
an old car, and more like 50-70 for a newer one. This should
be in the owners manual. The actual current generated will
depend on the state of the battery. I've seen my ammeter at
50 amps when the battery was really dead, the alternator is
a 55amp, which indicates that the electric fuel pump, ignition,
etc. were using about 5 Amps.
What they should have been measuring, as has been pointed out,
was voltage. The voltage regulator should maintain about 14 Volts.
I don't like Sears batteries because they leak acid all over
the place. Once had a new set of battery cable clamps die
in a month from all the acid. Wards seem to be much better.
But, the new and glorious battery to get is called a "Torquestarter".
650 Amps at 0 degrees F!! Totally sealed, no free acid, no gas
to explode. Just put one in a couple weeks ago, waiting to see
how it does this winter. Problem with these is they aren't sold
in every shopping mall in the country.
--
_____
/_____\ "Sink the Lousia?"
/_______\
|___| Snoopy
____|___|_____ ihnp4!ihuxl!seifertgarry@bolton.UUCP (Garry Baer) (09/27/84)
Sears batteries "if" installed properly, should not leak any sooner that any other batteries. The problem is the "monkeys" that install them @ your friendly Sears dont know (+) from (-). The NEW INCRED-A-CELL batttery has a maximum of 695 cold cranking ampers. The fact that you should be looking @ instead of the instant power is how long can the battery keep that up for. The sealed batteries tend to drop off quicker that the conventional acid type. I have had poor luck using those batteries in applications where adverse conditions require a longer/higher output for a substained period of time (boats, generators, etc). The sealed type claim-to-fame is that the last longer and are not "opened" to the environment. That may of may not be what you NEED, not what you WANT. The Baer