dduelin
Site Supporter
Clearly you don't understand this. If you connect two batteries together in parallel with jumper cables the regulator still regulates the output of the alternator to the "battery". The two batteries have become one and the regulator on the alternator acts accordingly. The good battery in this situation acts kind of like a capacitor - it is fully charged and damps the amount of charge current the regulator allows. The battery will only accept the amount of charge current it can take. In cruising sailboats, RVs, diesel electric submarines, emergency electrical back-up systems, etc. the battery "bank" is made up of two to hundreds of batteries connected in parallel, ie., positive to positive and negative to negative.I agree that there is resistance etc. But the discussion of "regulation" was less theoretical and more about the belief on the part of some that the alternator on a car is designed to regulate the charging rate of a motorcycle battery connected by jumper cables. Surely you don't believe that too?
If the opposite cables touch together without being connected to the flat battery that is a different matter because you created a dead short across the car battery. Connecting them properly in parallel does not create the massive inrush of current that you can weld with.
I think you believe that when you connect the cables to the flat battery it is the same as touching them together and creating a dead short, at least you project that in your last response.
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