Gauging interest in making new alternator voltage regulators

BillGrissom said
I see talk of different batteries needing different charging controls, but no explanation. Add that people are beginning to use lighter Li 12 VDC batteries, the only hindrance being price (>$600). There are various Li types. When I replaced the lead-acid batteries in my daughter's razor scooter with LiFePO4 (LFP) type, I had to buy a different charger since they like ~17 VDC vs ~14 VDC for lead. But, the auto Li batteries may be designed more compatible. Not sure how the Vreg would better match the battery. You can't go higher on charging voltage, since that can damage other consumers, like burn out the headlamps. Do you mean controlling the output current instead?

Re price, hard to beat the Vreg I bought for my 1965 Chrysler, $11 for early one field wire alternator (grounded field). It doesn't look OE, rather a thin chrome box more like the later Mopar Vreg, but w/ early connectors. Probably made in China, but what isn't today? But I'm changing my early Mopars to the later square-back alternator for more output current since TBI and radiator fans. I have a bag of 1970's two field wire Vregs (triangle connector) for them, though can also use a 1-wire Vreg with them (just ground one field wire). I mount the Vreg on the inner fender beside the alternator. Not sure why Mopar ran wires all the way to the firewall.

All Li based batteries, at least the larger ones of this nature, have an onboard electronics mangagement/ protection system. That system can also bite you. Some Li based systems "if they go dead" (enough) need special measures to bring them back, and of course, since the electronics package involves high power and amperage, this means IT CAN FAIL

When I worked at the wheel chair joint, we handled repairs of several LiFePo batteries used in the chairs. What this amounted to, is saving shipping an extremely heavy battery back for repair.

This involved safety glasses and face shields, being EXTREMELY careful, and using a HUGE soldering iron. The boss used about a 250 watt old American Beauty iron with a 5/8" or larger chisel tip Unlike a lead acid battery, the Li based stuff has banks of smaller cells in series, with the series strings then paralleled. It all adds up to a VERY high power and dangerous system, WHICH MUST BE repaired "hot" as there is no practical way to "disconnect" the things.

You simply have to be very awake, on the job, and careful.