ACFT CLBED ABOVE 10000 FT MSL WITHOUT OPERABLE XPONDER.

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ON GND AT FMN; OVER-VOLTAGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AMMETER SHOWED DISCHARGE. RETURNED TO RAMP; RESET SUCCESSFULLY; DEPARTED FMN. ON CLBOUT; NOTICED LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLT TO ABQ WITH INTENTION OF REDUCING ELECTRICAL LOAD ENRTE. ONCE 720 MI SE OF FMN; I SHUT OFF MASTER SWITCH TO PRESERVE BATTERY PWR; NAVING WITH HANDHELD VOR RECEIVER AND PILOTAGE. ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TURB ENRTE AT 9500 FT. APCHING VICINITY OF CABSO INTXN; I ENCOUNTERED SHARPER TURB. ANTICIPATING MORE INTENSE TURB OVER AREA OF HIGHER GND BTWN MY POS AND ALBUQUERQUE; I ELECTED TO CLB TO THE NEXT HIGHER VFR ALT FOR MY DIRECTION OF FLT; 11500 FT. I NEGLECTED TO CONSIDER THAT IT WOULD BE AGAINST REGS TO EXCEED 10000 FT TILL THE XPONDER DEACTIVATED. AT APPROX 25 MI FROM ABQ VOR ON ABOUT 325 DEG RADIAL; I TURNED THE ELECTRICAL SYS ON AND ACTIVATED XPONDER WHILE DSNDING OUT OF 11500 FT. I NOTIFIED APCH OF MY CHARGING PROB AND WE AGREED UPON A LOST COMS PROC. I LANDED AT ABQ WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT ONLY OCCURRED TO ME AFTER THE FLT WHILE DRIVING HOME THAT I HAD BROKEN A REG (FAR PART 91.215). FACTORS: INEXPERIENCE AND EXCESSIVE CONCERN ABOUT TURB; FAILURE TO CONSIDER WHETHER CLB TO 11500 FT WAS LEGAL; PERHAPS EXCESSIVE CONCERN FOR CONVENIENCE OF MYSELF (GET HOMEITIS) AND FOR OWNER OF ACFT (WHOSE REPAIR FACILITIES ARE AT ALBUQUERQUE).