Best RPM to charge??

[davidd]

At what engine speed will my battery receive the optimum charge from the alternator?

Is it getting much of a charge whilst sitting in traffic (no lights fans etc) or does the car have to be revving at a decent level to do anything? Is there an optimum after which a regulator kicks in to prevent charging it to quickly (there must be)??

TIA

D.

[beano500]

6000 revs

Turn up "Ryde of the Valkyries" to number 11 on the scale


Then....

CHARGE!!!!!

[beano500]

Er, sorry about that. Mis-read slightly!

Yes there must be a point below which you're drawing charge and above which you're storing.

Don't know what it is though.

[davidd]

beano500 said:

6000 revs Turn up "Ryde of the Valkyries" to number 11 on the scale Then.... <big>CHARGE!!!!!</big> Lol, cannot do that till it is warm D.

[yiw1393]

Alternator will produce enough charge at tickover. Once it reaches about 12 volts the regualtor will cut in to prevent over charging. At a guess this is anything above about 1500rpm.

You are thinking of the old dynamos, they were not that great at tickover, I remember the battery light flickering on more than one occassion in the rain at traffic lights whilst driving my 1600E.