Can a Bad Alternator Destroy a New Battery: Introduction and Effect

A battery car is no cheap object. It is pricey and plays a big role at maintain the state of the car. However, what if there are external factors that can damage the battery? In fact, there are some external states of the car that can affect car batteries, and one of them is the alternator. Both alternators and batteries are important for cars, and their state can affect each other’s condition. In this article, we will talk all about the bad alternator and how it can destroy a new battery if not taken care properly. From the introduction to its effect, everything will be written here.

Does an alternator going bad kill a new battery?

Before we talk about the alternator and its effects on batteries, let’s discuss about alternator first. The alternator is one of the main components of a car’s engine. It is a generator of electric power that gives extra electrical power when the car’s running and is the one that charges the battery. Its life is pretty long, ranging from 10 to 15 years. However, it’s never a bad idea to save up slowly in case you need to replace the alternator since it is pretty pricey.

Since it does charge the battery, it can be seen that the alternator plays a big role in a car’s battery. Fortunately, bad alternator does not always affect batteries, especially if it’s a new battery. However, there are times when a bad alternator can damage the new battery. Here are some ways where an alternator can go kill a new battery:

Overcharging The Battery

When an alternator goes bad, there is a chance it can overcharge the battery. When an alternator overcharges the battery, it will result in an excessively high voltage, and this will end up in a premature cell. We will have a premature cell failure because of a bad alternator.

Intermittent Charging

Believe it or not, but a bad alternator can actually intermittent charge the battery. When this happens, the engine shifts the power source to focus on the battery only. Battery, in car engine design, is supposed to ensure the steady-state of the voltage and current when the car owner is starting the car. Batteries are not the main power source of cars.

Ripple Voltage

Ripple voltage is bad for batteries. Ripple voltage is the condition where the AC goes through the alternator’s rectifier (the section that converts from AC to DC). ripple voltage is fatal because it can not only kill the battery but also the entire electronics of the car. So make sure that you prevent ripple voltage as much as possible.

Not Enough Charging

Surprisingly, a bad alternator can also not charge the battery. This will result in an insufficient power that can keep the battery up. If this process keeps happening nonstop, it will dagame the battery.

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As it can be seen, bad alternators can actually damage batteries if they are left alone. So it is best to make sure that your alternator is in a healthy state. If not, it might damage even more than batteries. It can damage the entire car.

How long will a new battery last if the alternator is bad?

Here is the good news if you have a bad alternator. The good news is that your battery can still run properly despite the state of the alternator. So you will have some time to get back home or race to the nearest car service center.

Here is the bad news. Even though your battery still works with a bad alternator, it will not last for a while. At most, you will get 30 minutes of a drive if you have a bad alternator. So when this happens to you, it’s best for you to prepare for the best route for the destination you want. Make sure you know the road too, or else you’ll spend your time circling the place, wasting the little time you have.

For this reason, it is important for us to be able to know the signs of bad alternators. Here are some signs of bad alternators:

Noises

The most common noise you can get is the squealing noise that comes from the engine. This can be the result of the serpentine belt that has been exhausted, which can result in bad alternator.

Stall Engine

An engine that stops suddenly definitely has some problems in it. Alternator problem can be one of them.

Service Engine Light

Most cars have service engine light to tell the car owners that there is something wrong inside that needs to be serviced. It is not unusual to have bad alternator as one of the things that need to be serviced.

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Can the wrong battery damage the alternator?

Yes, a wrong battery can damage the alternator. It is a relationship that goes both ways

There are certain conditions when a batter can damage the alternator

Battery Short

Battery with internal short can damage the alternator by making the alternator work harder than usual. A battery with short will cause the alternator will run at its highest output continuously or at a long period of time. Alternators are not meant to give maximum output for a long period of time.

Open Circuit

If your battery has an open circuit, it will result in the alternator not charging the battery at all. The second scenario that might happen is the bounce from a high voltage to low voltage back and forth. This will result in the regulator to stop working prematurely or immediately, so it’s best to watch out for that.

We can see that alternator plays a big role in a new battery, and the same goes for the battery to an alternator. It is a relationship that goes both ways. So, the best thing we can do is to make sure that the battery and the alternator are in a healthy state. Check them regularly and make sure that you bring them to the service center often. This will result in a healthy alternator and battery, and your car will be worry-free!