Tales from a Ventilation Lunatic

[sternwake]

Your genius professional  boondocker neighbors were likely told that turning on the headlamps kicks the alternator into high gear.

Many people give the alternator's voltage regulator and alternator itself, mystical powers of enlightenment and capability.  Its rather astounding the level of ignorance concerning vehicle charging systems by the general public.  Its like old wives tales on steroids, but more like grandpa's delusional ignorance repeated until chiselled into stone

I guess on some vehicles it is possible that a load on headlamp circuit tells the VR to seek higher voltages.  Whether this higher voltage makes up for the load of the headlamps depends on the alternator's capability at idle.

Most vehicles the 15 amps feeding the headlamps and signal lights is 15 amps not going into the depleted battery. 
 It's kind of like throwing a blanket over 280 watts of solar near noon and saying:
"That will get 'er done,  Yup." while looking around to see who noticed them being so smart, not dumb, but very beautifully smart.

The Jaro recipient is no brain surgeon, but seems to have a good heart, and has done me no wrong. I've met some good people through him, and known who to avoid, rather than finding out the hard way.

I am liking the ciggy voltmeter in daylight in my rig. passing low clouds I can easily see voltage drop the same time it gets darker outside then shoot to 14.7v when it gets brighter.  In absorption...7.6 amps into battery at 14.7v.