Drained battery and now won't stay running?

[taxreliever]

Older vehicles also only had 45 amp alternators, while newer vehicles crank out in excess of 120-140 amps. With all of the electronic gear on the vehicles these days, the alternator does a lot more work. When the engine spins faster, it doesn't notice the draw as much as it would at idle.

Your dent also doesn't have a computer, along with all of the electronics that are needed to keep emissions and such in check.

Yeah, but it wasn't driving a electric fuel pump, electric fuel injectors, electric timing control, electric brake controls, etc.

How many fuses does the dent have? relays?

How about the dodge?

I totally understand the need for all of the required "new" technology and increased electronics.

I guess I'm just pointing out why I believe the vehicles of yesteryear to be of more quality and practical for me.

I still don't understand why the alternator on the newer ones just don't run immediately regardless of the voltage reading or regardless of whether it's idling or not. That is what I meant by being dumb primarily. It seems as my dent would outperform this POS Dodge any day and even over a long period of time without any of the electronic and modern gadgets.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Alternators need a minimum rpm to start producing power...all of them will produce at idle, however it is a small amount.

 

[taxreliever]

Alternators need a minimum rpm to start producing power...all of them will produce at idle, however it is a small amount.

Hmmmm.....so if the battery is low and at idle and the alternator is only pouring out xxx amount of power (still not enough to run all the electronics), that is why the truck dies after turning over?

That seems to make a little more logical sense to me. I always believed that when the motor was running, the alternator was putting out enough power to run the vehicle even at idle, but apparently that's not the case, right?

I know the older vehicles don't require as much power, but I remember jump starting vehicles with dead and no batteries in high school and being able to still run.

Just a tad confused is all, but I think it's all coming together...I think.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Pretty much Ken..that is why the alternator has such a small pulley, it is to keep the rpm's on it.
You are spot on about not enough power at idle....there is no difference between your car alternator, a portable generator or an alternator at a power plant...all need a minimum rpm to produce usable electricity.
I remember even my old vehicles that had a shot battery, it would run but if you turned the headlights on or heater on at idle, it would die.
I could get into a technical discussion about voltage rise, field current, compound/shunt wound, number of poles etc....
But I won't

 

[taxreliever]

Pretty much Ken..that is why the alternator has such a small pulley, it is to keep the rpm's on it.
You are spot on about not enough power at idle....there is no difference between your car alternator, a portable generator or an alternator at a power plant...all need a minimum rpm to produce usable electricity.
I remember even my old vehicles that had a shot battery, it would run but if you turned the headlights on or heater on at idle, it would die.
I could get into a technical discussion about voltage rise, field current, compound/shunt wound, number of poles etc....
But I won't

Duncan, thanks for taking the time.....I'm still learning. I understand.