[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

trivia
recharging by driving loads your alternator. If not necessary don't do it. The alternator will not completely recharge the battery like a charger will.

This is very true. And to prove it, I have a $250 receipt from the new alternator I had to install after my old one burned out trying to recharge a completely dead battery after I jump started to car. Live and learn (hopefully from other mistakes, not your own).

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by jazzbass

This is very true. Live and learn ).

it's really good entertainment imo.. [Maybe that's a personal prob?]

The system can easily get personalized if you're into the action. So part of my info is more than book info. Sometimes the answer is what you want to deal with in you car's electrics.
The mfg installed electrics is good enough, but it's not great.

The alternator game can become fun when having to deal with the mfg install. It seems like there is a short distance from having them running properly to overheating them. I've always wanted to buy those temp's sticks or paints but I can't find them without spending $150 for a package. I'm looking for various temps between 180-230. I believe our diodes & internal regulator are functioning ok at 210.. and that 220&230 is a maybe?? I want to know what my alt temps are.. and if it gets interesting I'll figure out some kind of temp probe and ga for the cabin. who knows?

Anyway the alt cooling sucks.

and Bonus Coupons is that the alt ground sucks. If the alt ground sucks the whole alt wiring sucks. There should be a direct gr from alt to battery.. the icing on the cake it that the alt isn't even grounded to the tub. so it really sucks x2 imo. So if the wiring sucks it'll have to work harder, thus generating more heat.

and like Kurt said,
there are various ways to disconnect your battery. I found the disconnect that I can deal with.