Charging system failure cuts short a long X-Country

"Ron Lee" wrote

I was able to start my engine several times easily so I doubt that
battery charge was an issue. My best recollection is that the voltage
was around 12.2 V.

Yet adding another battery in parallel did seem to make a difference.

It really is magic or I just am not well educated on the intricacies
of how they work...or don't work.


Could be that after starting it several times, there was voltage available,
but that it could not push enough amps to excite the alternator field.

Could also be that the voltage regulator has the ability to see very low
voltage, and not use any of the remaining electricity to excite the
alternator field.
--
Jim in NC