Can You Charge A Deep Cycle Battery With An Alternator?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most vehicle will never properly and fully charge up a Deep Cycle battery

so invest in a good charger or a solar arrangement with a charge controller/regulator with at least a three stage charging control (many chargers are now 6 or 7 stage affairs).

How long does it take to charge a deep cycle battery with a generator?

If the generator is plugged into an AC outlet, it can take

up to 2 hours

for the battery to fully charge. It will take longer if your RV battery is below 20%.

Do I need a special charger for a deep cycle battery?

Do deep cycle batteries need a special charger?

Yes, you need a charger (and ideally a smart charger) designed specifically for keeping deep cycle batteries healthy to get good results

. Because deep cycle batteries aren't designed to handle the excess heat and rapid charging of a regular/traditional battery charger.

Can I use a car alternator on my boat?


Yes, you got it right

. There are several risks associated with this slight incompatibility. Firstly, the car generates a lower output power. This power reduction might affect the proper function of the components of your boat.

Will an alternator fully charge a dead battery?

A) Alternators are designed to maintain a battery's charge,

not to recharge a dead battery

. Charging a dead battery with an alternator will result in premature alternator failure.

How long does it take alternator to charge dead battery?

Remember: After you've done a jump start, you'll need to keep the vehicle's engine running for around

30 minutes

to allow the alternator time to charge the battery sufficiently.

How do I charge a deep cycle battery?

How do you charge a completely dead deep cycle battery?

Can you charge a deep cycle battery from a car?


Most vehicle alternators will never properly and fully charge up a Deep Cycle battery

so invest in a good charger or a solar arrangement with a charge controller/regulator with at least a three stage charging control (many chargers are now 6 or 7 stage affairs).

How long should you run a generator to charge RV batteries?

You'll have to run the engine for something like

5-6 hours

to get a meaningful charge. Much of this is simple math. If you have four 100 amp/hr batteries, and you discharge them to 50% (which is all the lower you should take the batteries) you need to put back 1/2 of the original 400 amp/hrs, or 200 amp/hrs.

Why won't my generator charge my RV battery?

If your generator doesn't charge your RV battery, it could be for several reasons:

Check the battery disconnect to make sure it is not disconnected

. Ensure that the converter circuit breaker is on and fuses are good. Ensure that the main breakers on the generator are not tripped.

Can I charge my power bank with generator?

That being said, to be “safe” for sensitive electronics, the power must be regulated. There are many safeguards and regulators in place for most generators as well as for your phone charger, as well as in your phone. As long as the power is regulated, it won't mater where you get it.

It really is safe to use

.

What is the difference between a marine alternator and a car alternator?

Regulator Features

Automotive alternators rely on simplified voltage regulators, internally or externally, whose main task is keeping the starter battery topped off. Efficiency and battery life are of higher priority in marine applications, however, so

the regulators are more complex, accurate and adjustable

.

Is boat alternator bad?

Signs of a bad boat alternator are

your battery keeps dying often, and the voltage drops below 13.5V while operating at around 1500+ RPMs

. Even overheating and a bad smell from the alternator will indicate that there is something that needs to be fixed to prevent failure in the near future.

Is there an alternator on an outboard motor?

Yes.

Almost all outboards that have electric start and that were built in the last 20 years, will have either an alternator or a stater that charges the battery when the engine is running

. At what capacities and loads they charge the batteries is another thing.

How fast does an alternator need to spin to charge a battery?

Alternator may not generate sufficient charging voltage until alternator speed is greater than about

2000 RPM

. Typically, alternators have their full output rated at 6000 RPM but can continue to spin up to 12,000 RPM or more without any additional increase in output.

How many amps does an alternator charge a battery at?

Car batteries range from 40AH to 110AH, and alternators range from

45 amps to 200 amps

. If you are using a battery charger, a 10 amp charger will take 4 to 11 hours to fully charge the battery, a 2 amp charger will take 2-4 days.

Does the alternator charge the battery while the car is parked in idle?

As long as the mechanical action of the alternator is taking place; that is, being turned by the engine crankshaft. Then

the alternator is producing AC current, thereby charging the battery while your car is idling.

Does revving the engine charge the battery?


The battery will charge faster if you rev the engine faster

. Why? Because the faster the crankshaft turns, the faster it turns the belt that runs the alternator. And the faster the alternator turns, the more electricity it produces to run all the electrical stuff in the car — and recharge the battery.

Will battery charge while idling?

Does the Battery Charge if You Let the Car Idle? The simple answer to this question is

yes, your car's battery will start to charge as long as your engine is running

.

How do I know if my alternator is not charging my battery?

An alternator charges your battery when the car is running.

If the interior and dashboard lights come on brightly but slowly start to fade

, then it indicates a problem whit the alternator. It demonstrates that the alternator cannot keep a charge when the car is running.

What kind of battery charger do I need for a deep cycle battery?

What Voltage Do I Need?

The voltage of the charger must match the output voltage of the battery

. If your boat has a 12v battery, you'll require a 12v charger. The same applies to two 12v batteries in a parallel setup—the voltage does not double in this setup, and you'll still need a 12v battery charger.

How do you charge a 12 volt deep cycle battery?


Set your battery charger to a slow or trickle charge

and select whether you are charging a 6, 12 or 24 volt deep cycle battery. If your battery charger has the option to set the voltage for the charge, set it to 20 percent of the rated amp per hour rate of the battery you are charging.

Can you charge a deep cycle battery at 40 amps?

Charging a car battery at 40 amps

shouldn't be done for longer than 2 hours

. Fast charging car batteries can be dangerous and should be done in short bursts. Failure to do so could result in explosions.

Can you charge a dead deep cycle battery?

Deep cycle batteries are unique power sources for marine applications. They're designed to be discharged down to practically no power at all, and then

you can charge them back up to a brand-new state

.

What is the lowest voltage for a deep cycle battery?

The lowest limit is

10.5 volts

(used in testing) and obviously unsatisfactory in practical use. Experienced RVers try to use no more than 20% to 50% of the energy available in a battery before recharging. That means they never let resting voltage get below 12.5.

How long can a deep cycle battery last without charging?

They can sit in storage for a long time without having to charge their batteries. After

30 days

of being completely discharged, giant deep cycle batteries can be almost fully charged.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.