The car runs on the generator once the engine is started, and it recharges the battery. If your battery was completely dead, it's going to take it at least 20 minutes on a charger before the acid becomes conductive and it starts to take a charge. From there it will need at least an hour on the charger. Always use a low charge rate on older batteries. Unlike the three-phase generators, chargers put out a rectified sine wave which will tend to vibrate the plates in the battery and accelerate the lead flaking off of them as they age.
To test the generator use an inexpensive digital voltmeter to measure the battery voltage with the engine off and with it running. A fully charged good battery will read 12.6 volts with the engine off. With the engine running the battery voltage must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, suspect the generator. Be sure the belt is tight too. When you push on the generator's fan blade with your thumb, (engine not running hopefully), the pulley must not slip under the belt. If it does, tighten or replace the belt.
Nov 28, 2011 at 7:53 PM
