[T3] Endless Problems, update....

[Jim Adney]

On 9 Dec 2010 at 23:30, Bobsnotch at aol.com wrote:

> Well, it was 2:30 in the morning, and we had just driven 16.5 hours from  
> Carthage that day, so I was ready to call it a day. Got up around 9:30, and 
> had  some coffee before going out to change the VR and finish unloading the 
> car from  the Invasion trip. I figured unplugging the battery would keep the 
> charge in it,  rather than leave the light on overnight.

That was QUITE a day for you and Sue. I'm just glad that you made it 
home alive after a day that long.  

The real problem you were faced with was the fact that with the 
engine off and the light on, the battery is discharging backwards 
thru the generator. That's the fault that the light is indicating. 
That will draw a LOT of current and burn out the generator. The 
current drawn by the lamp is insignificant.

If you leave the engine running, the (functioning) generator will 
buck the reverse current to some degree while you do what you need to 
do to get to the battery. This may save your generator.

-- 
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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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