The NorthStar AGM Battery + Voltage Booster Upgrade

I was probably too excited and was skimming the directions.. thanks for clarifying!!! mine is set at default and its charging around 14.2-5

 

Enjoy the boosted output!

 

Thank you for showing us this product. I originally got the mike singer booster, but for some reason during freeway driving the battery was charging at 15.2-5v I immediately took it off because that was way too much? I saw your post a couple weeks later and so far so good.

 

Never heard of that product, just did a google search and WTF, a "stage 2 15v booster". No automotive battery can take that. That is an excellent way to fry your expensive battery and possibly other electronics. Yes, you were wise to remove that immediately because it would cause damage.

I do not recommend products without far above average analysis, hence using a voltage data logger in this thread, to ensure the product was safe before recommending it on the forum. And when someone questioned the charging voltage ratings, I pulled the information until I verified directly with the battery manufacture that my direction in using a voltage booster, and the specified adjusted voltage range, was correct. I take a lot of pride in the information I try and provide to the forum, if I discover anything is inaccurate I will immediately correct it.

 

Exactly how mine works.

Being that it is a diode, there is only 1-way current flow.

 

any idea if this will impact the longer term life of the alternator?

 

Heat reduces alternator life. Technically this will cause the alternator to run slightly hotter as it is producing slightly more voltage, but it is only boosting it by approximately 3.5%, so the change is pretty minor in the big picture.
https://www.elreg.com/blog/factors-that-affect-the-lifetime-of-an-alternator/

 

Legitimately things there’s nothing electrical I can do that @crashnburn80 hasn’t done already.

I got my RX350s in (but appreciate all the halogen work) and now my NorthStar 27F and see this.

*orders*

 

More electrical stuff in the pipeline.

 

What is it and will it make my battery charge better

 

Heat isn't the byproduct of voltage passing through a conductor, amperage is. That's why only wire insulation thickness grows as you're applied voltage goes up. The reason heat is problem for voltage is if it gets too hot, the temp rise due to the amperage plus the ambient temperature (plus other factors) can exceed the operating temp of the insulation material and cause it to melt or char. That's when shorts happen

 

Right, I was being a bit indirect. Per V=IR, if resistance load is constant then increasing voltage increases amperage proportionally.

 

After placing an order on May 4th, I finally got my booster in from down under, does anyone know what dip switch settings correspond to the voltage changes? Mine didn't come with a manual or settings, or do you just start it up and start changing the dip switches until you get the voltage you desire?

 

The info with pictures is in the original post. You want switches 1-3 to be down on the numbers and switches 4-5 to be up at DP, which corresponds to +0.6v.

Each switch down toward a number = +0.2v. 3 switches in the down position: 3 x 0.2 = 0.6v.

 

Thanks, wasn't sure if up or down was adding the voltage. Hopefully I'll get to install and test soon, I have two optima D34 yellow tops with a blue sea ACR relay; so I'm thinking I'll shoot for the 14.7 range like you have. The optima specs for charging voltage via alternator are 13.65-15VDC

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/charging/charging-tips

Thanks again!

 

Done. I decided to be conservative with boost of .4V
Will monitor and adjust as needed.

 

Dang USPS came while I was out today...hopefully can get mine tomorrow.

 

I got lucky with signing the little card USPS left.

 

Awesome write up as always. Glad I finally had time to read it.

It seems odd to me that the voltage seems to experience more 'noise' or jagged peaks after installing the MK4 booster. What are the units on the X axis of your battery logger?

 

So I read a little more before ordering. You probably don’t have the ALT-S fuse like other third gens, and have a nice paperweight now