Alternator Replacement
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03-05-2007, 07:17
Post: #5
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Alternator Replacement
I would imagine that the wiring is a limiting factor, although hard to say for
sure. These are new AGMs, which have a low resistance compared to wet cells. The most-likely primary cause for only getting 100 amps of charge is simply that the batteries weren't particularly low, and therefore the voltage was quickly high. On 3/5/2007 at 9:44 AM Chuck Wheeler wrote: >Don, > >I believe that you will se the benefits of two alternators when you are >using a lot of the 12 volt systems on your coach such as moving out after >spending the night dry camping on the the batteries. When just charging >the >batteries there are several things that will come into play limiting the >charging current. First you have the internal resistance of the batteries. >This increases as they age and the charging current will go down no matter >how much they are discharges. Then there is the resistance in the charging >circuit, wiring, ammeter shunts , etc.. Also no two regulators are exactly >the same. So one alternator will take the load first. It will be somewhat >balanced by the resistance in the wiring between the two. When I would >check out construction equipment with two alternators I would test one at a >time by disconnecting the battery wire from one alternator at a time. >Sometimes we would discover problems in one circuit. As I said at the >beginning the real benefit will be under heavy load. Just charging the >batteries this current will be limited by the alternator and wiring. Up to >the point that you overload the alternator the charging current will remain >the same for a certain amount of battery discharge no matter how large an >alternator you install. > >- Chuck Wheeler - >82 FC 31 SB >Fort Worth, TX > > > _____ > >From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com >[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Don Bradner >Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 11:07 PM >To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Alternator Replacement > > > >My alternator replacement job is done, I'm happy to say. > >For memory refreshment, I had Alternator 1 with zero output, and Alternator >2 with max 50-amps and unable to maintain voltage with headlights on. > >Replacing the top-front one (under the bed) was easy. That one was a >130-amp >Prestolite. After replacement, and with the power cables removed from the >back one, the engine was started and showed 100 amps on Alternator 1 at >idle, zero on Alternator 2. Voltage was above 13.5 and amps dropped quickly >as the start drop was replaced, even with the headlights on. > >Replacing the back alternator was not easy at all. It sits under the A/C >pump, so I tried to drop it out the bottom, but there just wasn't room to >make it. The way the A/C pump is bracketed it was a B***h to remove, and >similar to replace, but I eventually got it done. The removed alternator >has >no apparent markings anywhere, so I don't know what it was or its rating. > >Running with the two new Leece-Neville 160-amp alternators the output after >startup is still 100 amps, shared equally between the two. I guess that >makes sense, but I had thought it would be higher. I wish I had a way to >draw down the batteries and still have enough to start the engine, so I >could see if it would show a higher charge rate. > >Overall it was an interesting learning experience. I also replaced the >belts >on Alternator 1, which showed some wear, but the others - alternator 2 and >the A/C pump - looked like new so I left them. > >Don Bradner >90 PT40 "Blue Thunder" >Eureka, CA > > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Don Bradner 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder" Eureka, CA |
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Messages In This Thread |
Alternator Replacement - Don Bradner - 03-04-2007, 17:06
Alternator Replacement - Chuck Wheeler - 03-05-2007, 03:44
Alternator Replacement - Gregory OConnor - 03-05-2007, 04:29
Alternator Replacement - Chuck Wheeler - 03-05-2007, 04:31
Alternator Replacement - Don Bradner - 03-05-2007 07:17
Alternator Replacement - Leroy Eckert - 03-05-2007, 10:42
Alternator Replacement - ronmarabito2002 - 03-05-2007, 14:34
Alternator Replacement - Don Bradner - 03-05-2007, 14:52
Alternator Replacement - ronmarabito2002 - 03-06-2007, 02:40
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