8V92 alternator questions

[mbulriss]

My #1 alt is also under the bed like Leroy's. Leroy also mentioned
that 160amp alts are hard to find and expensive. Having just lost
both of mine and having them re-built, my re-builder told me that 160s
are the same as 145s with a different pulley to spin them faster.
145s are pretty easy to find new in any truck parts house around $150.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> I tend to agree with your concerns. My alternator behind the rear
bumper failed and I was not aware of it. On the road my #1 alternator
failed and left me with the generator. That really wasn't a problem..
The #1 alternator was a 160amp variety if I recall and when I pulled
the #2 it was 135amp. I put a 160amp alternator back. All of this is
from memory at the moment, I could look in my paper work and verify.
It has been almost 3 years without problems. I even had Coachcraft by
McDonald, Columbus GA a BB service center look at the switch for me
when I retrofitted the Wabasto and they could not figure it out
either. I changed all the wires, cleaned connections and nothing
changed at the switch. Soooo, I unplugged the !@#$ light. A little
bit of redneck engineering there. Kinda like if the rattle bothers you
, turn up the radio. lol
>
> You have 6v batteries? Interesting mine are 12v, bank of 6.
> A lot of weird differences in these coaches, eh?
>
> Typically, in terms of time, depending if the a/c, lights, inverter
output, etc. are utilized, it may take 30 minutes for the amp meter
to settle at 50 amp in my coach. I'd suggest starting the coach and
checking the output of both alternators, if they have output you may
be ok. Also, check the rating, someone may have placed a lesser
output value on the coach. 160's are not easy to find and are not
cheap. Just a thought.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Don Bradner
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] 8V92 alternator questions
>
>
> That's helpful. It actually hadn't occurred to me that I might be
chasing a switch ghost - I figured the number 1 (which you say is the
one under the bed, but for Bob it is the one by the bumper ???) was
actually bad, but the fault didn't trip until the total amperage
dropped low enough.
>
> With a charge rate of 150 amps I would expect your batteries to
hit full charge fairly quickly? That mine takes hours and 100 miles or
more is a good part of why I thought the 50 amp rate might be right.
We are not talking about discharged batteries - these are
one-month-old 6-volt AGM Lifelines that are full charged at the start,
and only have to make up for the current used in starting the engine.
I would expect 160-amp chargers, even if only one is working, to get
it up in a matter of minutes with a high charge-rate that quickly
falls off. I'm not seeing that.
>
> I know just enough about alternators to be dangerous. I understand
exciter current and such. I don't understand how an alternator would
be working, but working way less than full output.
>
> On 2/20/2007 at 8:46 PM Leroy Eckert wrote:
>
> >Don:
> >I probably will not be much help because I chased that switch
ghost for a
> >year. I finally gave up and unplugged the fault light. It doesn't
concern
> >me any more. My number 1 alternator is the one on top of the engine
> >accessable under the bed.
> >
> >After I start typically my amp guage will be in the 150 range
with the
> >switch in dual. It progressively decreases while driving and the volt
> >meter is around 13.5v. Once stable the amp reading is 50 amp at all
> >times.
> >
> >I periodically check my alternators for output with a meter.
> >
> >If you find the ghost, please advise.
> >
> >Leroy Eckert
> >1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> >Niceville, FL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Don Bradner
> > To: wanderlodgeforum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:57 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 8V92 alternator questions
> >
> >
> > I've got a few questions after I describe what I'm seeing on my
> >dual-alternator 8V92:
> >
> > After starting, the voltage is somewhat below 13, and alt2 is
running
> >about 50 amps. Alt1 is essentially zero, although there is a
slight upward
> >blip when changing the display from alt2 to both.
> >
> > Voltage slowly rises, and after quite a distance (100 miles or
more) the
> >voltage is in the 13.5 range. At around that time, the Fault
light comes
> >on. Alt2 at this point is running around 25 amps, and there is no
apparent
> >increase in the both position.
> >
> > What do other 8V92 dual-alternator owners see for charge rates,
1, 2,
> >and both? I'm presuming the zero/near zero is telling me I have a bad
> >alternator, but is the 50 amps from Alt2 also low? If it is, what
does
> >that mean?
> >
> > Does anyone know, on theirs, which alternator is 1 and which is
2? Front
> >top, or back by the bumper?
> >
> > Don Bradner
> > 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
> Don Bradner
> http://www.arcatapet.net
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>