Testing with battery charger caution

["Dennis C." <dennis.2914@xxxxxxxxx>]

Testing with a battery charger can work but it can also cause problems.

Check the open circuit voltage on your charger with a volt meter before 
you connect anything to it.  Many older chargers have a high open 
circuit voltage (voltage when not connected to a battery).  This can be 
high enough to damage some electrical devices.  Many of the new 
electronic chargers will not even work unless they see voltage from a 
battery.  

A much better way to test your wiring and still use a battery charger is 
to connect the charger to a battery and use the battery for your power 
supply.  At any of the auto supply stores get an inline fuse holder and 
fuses.  Put the fuse holder inline with the battery so if you have a 
short it will open the fuse and not damage any wiring.  If you are 
attaching any loads to the wiring then adjust the size of fuse according 
to the load.  

Just as a good practice when using a battery charger on a battery that 
is dead or near dead ALWAYS disconnect the battery from the vehicle 
before attaching the battery charger.  The battery puts a load on the 
charger and brings the voltage down to a safe level if the battery is 
not dead however dead batteries do not initially load the charger and 
the high voltage can be a problem.  

On newer cars with a computer it can kill the computer and cost BIG $$, 
I know from an expensive experience.

Dennis C.


waedison@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Could you post more information on using a battery charger to test the 
> wiring systems? Is the idea to either set the charger at a lower 
> amperage than the battery or the alternator would put out, or do battery 
> chargers do that automatically? I'm putting in all new harnesses in my 
> 64 Sport Fury and would appreciate whatever advice you have.  Do you 
> hook the ground to the car body and the hot lead to the big red wire 
> that feeds through the ammeter? 
> 
> Thanks/Butch/Ferndale, WA 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ollie" <satellite1965@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
> To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 6:08:52 AM 
> Subject: Re: Power to the new harness 
> 
> 
> You are correct, A battery charger is the way to go for the "first" test 
> 
> Thanks for the pics 
> Ollie 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: MO ( Steve Mick) 
> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 1:05 AM 
> To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Subject: Re: Power to the new harness 
> 
> 
> Thaks Mike for putting in the link to your project pics. Â I really 
> enjoy 
> looking at the journey of a Mopar done by a guy in his garage. Those 
> befor 
> pics are good evidence that under something that looks good can be 
> hidden 
> horrors.  I can certainly relate  to many of your pics as I work on my 
> 64 
> Dodge. Â I am very thankfull that my rust issues have been pretty minor. 
> Your 
> pics and getting the 64 Fury running and out of the way has  got me 
> revved 
> up to get back to my Dodge project ( pics at the link below my name 
> here) 
> CARRY ON!....................MO 
> {Steve Mick} 
> http://stevemick1964dodge.shutterfly.com/pictures/5 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Phelps" <mikeph@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx> 
> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 8:23 AM 
> Subject: Power to the new harness 
> 
> 
> > 
> > Hello all. I think I've got the engine all wired up. I've gone back and 
> > forth and back again over the diagrams and I think i'm ready to put 
> > power to it. When I restores my instrument panel I checked it by hooking 
> > 
> > a battery charger to it and it worked well. Shouldn't the engine wiring 
> > work the same? I just want to put power to it and make sure it dosn't 
> > burn up. Then I'll feel like I can move on to the dash wiring. Any 
> > thoughts? 
> > BTW, if anyone is interested here is a link to an album of the 
> > restoration process so far. 
> > https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=116989096452645998816&target=ALBUM&id=5592292251894953025&authkey=Gv1sRgCKnwtI_u85bRlwE&feat=email 
> > 
> > 
> > I hope this link works, it's the first time I've posted it. 
> > 
> > Mike Phelps 
> > 1965 Plymouth Belvedere II Convertible 
> > 361/727 
> > 2004 Hemi Ram Quad Cab 
> > 2004 Chrysler 300M 3.5HO 
> > 2004 PT Cruiser 2.4 Turbo 
> > 
> > 
> > ---- 
> > Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- Â  
> > 
> > directly to that person. Â I.e., send parts/car transactions and 
> > negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended 
> > recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will 
> > protect 
> > your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content 
> > signal to Mopar topic. Â Thanks! 
> > 
> > 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines: 
> > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and 
> > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html. 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> ---- 
> Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- Â  
> 
> directly to that person. Â I.e., send parts/car transactions and 
> negotiations 
> as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not 
> to 
> the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, 
> reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to 
> Mopar 
> topic. Â Thanks! 
> 
> 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines: 
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and 
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html. 
> 
> 
> ---- 
> Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- 
> directly to that person. Â I.e., send parts/car transactions and 
> negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended 
> recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will 
> protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the 
> content signal to Mopar topic. Â Thanks! 
> 
> 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines: 
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and 
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 



1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Conversion
1964 Plymouth Belvedere 318 Auto
1963 Plymouth Sport Fury 383 4-speed
1949 Dodge Pickup 289/C4 soon to be changed
1998 Honda Valkyrie Standard


----
Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!

1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html. 

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