Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

	I have been using a solar charger (the fold-out-set-on-dashboard 
type) to recharge my batteries at rides.  Last spring, someone moved 
my truck while I was riding without disconnecting the solar 
charger.  By late that night (it was a 100), the battery was pretty 
much dead, and running the truck wouldn't recharge it.  When I got 
home, I found a blown fuse; replaced it and the truck would once 
again recharge the battery... However, this incident was the 
beginning of a long series of electrical 'glitches'.  Battery going 
dead while sitting for a short time, etc.  Replaced the 
battery.  Same story with the new battery.
	Turned out that the truck's alternator was malfunctioning, in spite 
of the fact the dashboard 'trouble lights' weren't coming on, and the 
mechanics diagnostics said the alternator was ok.  I've been told 
that this is similar to hooking up incorrectly when boosting from 
another vehicle; it can damage the charging vehicles 
alternator.  Does that sound correct?  If so, it's a cautionary 
tale--if you have the solar charger hooked up, disconnect it before 
starting your truck....and hide the keys from your friends!

terre


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