1998 max 2 charging system?

[6x6addict]

i was wondering if a 1998 max 2 will charge the battery while running or if i should be hooking up the charger periodically. thanks in advance!

[newargoowner]

The charging system only charges at full throttle (3600rpm). The longer you run it the better. my 98 max does ok. but my battery is going bad so i put it on a charger periodically. if your not using it for long periods of time it is bettter for the battery to keep it on a trickle charger.

[JohnF]

The charging system only charges at full throttle (3600rpm).

Should be sooner than that - a high idle - something like 1400 or 1700 RPM should get you something like 2 amps. It will produce higher currents at higher RPMs. Basic generality - high current short time / low current long time; either will charge your battery. [Yes, there are specifics about different battery chemistries that define what that means but I said "generality" darn it!]

[Albo]

With the 2001 max II that I had, just normal use would keep the battery charged. As long as you have a good battery and don't run extra lights or other things for long periods it shouldn't need external charging. Of coarse if it sits for long periods without use it may require a charge.

[6x6addict]

the previous owner had disconnected the lights and left them hanging there. when i went to connect them to the toggle switch and flipped the switch to turn them on, wires in the harness started to melt together within seconds. when i take the toggle switch out of the loop and wire the lights so they turn on every time the key is turned, i do not have any issues with wires in the harness melting. if the max gets driven at least 1-2 times every weekend, would i run into the issue of having a dead battery if the lights were on the entire time the max was driven? anyone else ever have a problem with the toggle switch melting wires when it is switched to the on position?

[amphibious drew]

The key should have an accessory setting one turn back from on if that makes sense. IE turn key all the way to the right to start your machine. Let go of the key and you are in "run" position. Turn key to the left one notch turns accessory(lights) on. Turn it back one more time and everything shuts off. If you wire the lights to the accessory setting of your ignition switch, you could still turn the lights on and off and don't need a toggle. I have melted a few wires set up to toggles once, but I throughout the little black transistor/regulator/resistor/whatever it was when I wired up a bunch of kc day lighters and a set of fog lights to them. I turned everything on for about 30 minutes to set up camp one night, and lets just say I had a serious smoking problem when I went back into the truck. Luckily I opened the door before the headliner caught fire, but the wires and switches looked pretty toasty. I guess if you straight wire a set of aftermarket lights to a toggle, you best use all the important little parts that go to the electrical components.