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Subject: Questions about the charging system????

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stacey honn User is Offline

Not a Newbie
Posts:28

Registered Users

03/14/2008 6:57 AM
I've read some of the forums here on the battery isolator and the alternator. Cleaned all my connections and what was really wierd when all was put back together my volt meter on the dash was reading really high. I checked with a volt meter and sure enough the alternator was putting out 14.5 or so at idle and revving the engine almost hit 16. Shut off the engine restart and now back to normal but the volt gauge seems to show too low of a charge, "especially with lights and heater blower on high" even when reving over 2000 R's. With a good load on the alernator and reving the engine my handheld volt meter shows almost 14v but dash meter hangs on the low side making me feel uncomfortable. I've cleaned every neg and pos post I could find on the rig but guage is either inaccurate or after spiking has thrown it out of calibration. I'm tempted to just pick up a new alternator and carry it for backup. I know 14 on my voltmeter is good so I'm probably worrying about nothing but I'm planning a trip to Colorado and we're leaving at 7pm driving 15 hours through the night. Bad time to be replacing an alternator! BTW, my battery isolator checked out fine.

COOPERHAWK User is Offline

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Expert
Posts:843

Administrators
East Central Minnesota

03/14/2008 10:07 AM
I watch my volt meter on the road and when it remains too high for a long period, I turn on the lights to hold it down. It works however, harder to recharge batteries and that's when the voltage gets high.

1985 Airstream 345 Turbo-Diesel VFW,Legion, NRA FAA Air Traffic Control Supervisor (Retired) http://www.cooperhawk.net mailto:jimcooper@cooperhawk.net "People are okay in ones and twos. After that number they tend to choose up sides and wear arm bands and berets."

Balrgn

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Posts:805

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Southern NH

03/14/2008 4:27 PM
Kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place, too much charge will boil the fluid, not enough will drain the battery... Do you have a Chiltons for you year? What year is your rig???

1977 Argosy 20 454 V8 Gas Southern NH Maintenance Analyst www.balrgn.com

Jim Elliott User is Offline

Camper
Posts:64

Registered Users

03/14/2008 6:07 PM
Stacey, On mine I use a 2 1/8 digital gauge which is very accurate and the unit slipped right into the dash... Since the guage button needs to be pushed to read another panel was constructed in the forward upper cab section for oil pressure, Water temp, and electrical.....A glance up tells me just about everything and I'll move the digital trannie temp gauge from the steering post to the upper unit also. My dash panel charging indicator kinda remains about 1/8 inch above the nuetral line....Bottom line is initial start up while everything is cool/cold 14.6 volts and as the temps inside/outside rise it will drop down to 13.7/8 so no problem...... Jim

stacey honn User is Offline

Not a Newbie
Posts:28

Registered Users

03/14/2008 9:34 PM
Great news, bought a new alternator and everything is great. Guage is at a position where I like to see even with lights blower and wipers running. I guess it was the 26 year old aternator. Volt meter now shows 14.8 with a load. I'm going to sleep better knowing I acually fixed something the first time.

Balrgn

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Expert
Posts:805

Registered Users
Southern NH

03/15/2008 7:16 AM
Congrats Stacey! Ours was replaced by the PO, just before we made the purchase. They noticed it was charging @ 12 and pulled into a service station, good thing too, it dies then and there!

1977 Argosy 20 454 V8 Gas Southern NH Maintenance Analyst www.balrgn.com

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