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1963c-10 · 03-25-2014, 09:45 AM

Ive always gone off the rule that 30min at idle or 15min of good driving to charge a battery off an alternator. Its not a quick charge. Letting it idle for a few minutes or just driving down the road will not fully charge the battery. Some batteries can take up to 3 hours with driving to fully charge.

The alternator is really not designed to charge a dead battery....just to maintain a good one. I've seen quite a few alternators with fried diodes from this. A battery charger or a replacement battery is normally the best option...just my opinion though.

03-25-2014, 09:45 AM	#4
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Why won't she start! Ive always gone off the rule that 30min at idle or 15min of good driving to charge a battery off an alternator. Its not a quick charge. Letting it idle for a few minutes or just driving down the road will not fully charge the battery. Some batteries can take up to 3 hours with driving to fully charge. The alternator is really not designed to charge a dead battery....just to maintain a good one. I've seen quite a few alternators with fried diodes from this. A battery charger or a replacement battery is normally the best option...just my opinion though. __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer Last edited by 1963c-10; 03-25-2014 at 03:41 PM.