         
Batteries Part 2 Charging of the battery should be done by a battery charger and not the alternator! As simple as it sounds, a lot of people (and some pros too!) still believe that if a battery is strong enough to start the engine, the alternator will take care of the rest. Nothing can be further from the truth. The batteries used these days can really take a very high rate of charge without boiling over or excessive gassing. A final test for a battery is to start the car, make sure everything is off, including the ever-on headlights, let it run for about 15 minutes and use an amp probe to see how hard the alternator is charging. On a fully charged battery a reading of more than 15 amps will indicate a battery that needs to be replaced. This is an important check, because if the battery is taking too much to maintain its charge, then the alternator will be working too hard and its life span will be much shorter. Sources: Electrical Rebuilders Exchange Mohammed Samii,Automotive Rebuilders 
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