On 11/29/2017 11:33 PM, Paul wrote:
mike wrote:

Car generators have had regulators for as long as I can
remember. 1955 was the oldest car I've had. Was sloppy.
Just a relay that had a soft spring that gave a couple
of levels of control.

So I take it then, it was just designed to
destroy the battery ? :-) That sounds like the
car companies I know and love.

Does it ever stop charging the battery, or does
the '55 battery get ruined ? There are two ways
to ruin a battery - sulfation (too little charging
between uses) and corrosion (too much charging).

Was the best affordable technology available.
Not having an alternative is a strong motivator
to accept what you get.