Batteries - charging - normal?

[Scott Forman]

I dn't know about how healthy it is, but my readings are just like
what you describe. The alternator has to be "excited" by spinning it
above idle to get a good output.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "hippieforever3"
wrote:
>
> Boy, its amazing the range of reactions you get when you play the
> musical horn.
>
> Alternator charging and battery health questions.
> In the morning the voltmeter may be showing between 10.5 and 11
volts,
> Engine turns over nice and easy and settles into idle.
> Voltage now reads around 10 volts and charging meter is dead on
zero
> and continues until we tap the accelerator. Rev up to around
1200rpm
> or more and then the charging meter jumps to 60-75a and the volt
> meter pops up to 11.5 or so.
> Continue to idle and charging drops to 20ish and voltage climbs to
12-
> 12.5v in 10-15 minutes.
>
> The first question is what is going on until that initial tap on
the
> accelerator?
>
> We've got 4 Kirkland Marine deep cycle batteries about 20 months
into
> a 30 month warranty.
> While we were at Walmart the other day we tried to get them to
check
> the batteries but they did it with all four connected and only
> checked for the cold cranking spec (550a). I didn't think that test
> was worth squat but that was all they would do.
>
> Just running and hour or two of two mini-spots, the night light,
the
> water pump sporadically and the heater fans intermittently at night
> drops us from full charge voltage to around 11v or into dangerous
> cranking territory.
>
> The second question is, do those reading and times sound like a
> healthy battery bank?
>
> Regards,
> GPSGary
> On our way to registering in South Dakota
> 84FC35 (with a personality)
>