Weird electrical glitch

[David Brady]

This evening, while driving from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, I
had a strange electrical phenomenon take place. I was cruising
at 75mph, just crested a 6% grade, engine temp was around 200
deg F, and suddenly I hear a beeping noise coming from my Trace
inverter remote controls, a "High Batter Voltage" alarm. I checked
the dash gauges and found that the alternator amp gauge was pegged
at 300 amps and the DC Volts Coach and DC Volts Engine were
pegged at 16 volts. This condition lasted for maybe 15 seconds.
I pulled off at the next exit ramp and inspected the inverters and
the alternator and load center wiring at the rear of the coach -
no obvious problems existed. The sun was setting so I got back
in the coach, started her up, and turned on the headlights only to
notice that I lost my driving lights. This seems to be the only issue
I've noticed thus far. We then motored down I-15 to Las Vegas using
the high beams. The next 200 miles were non-eventful. Any ideas
on what could have happened?

TIA,
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
Va

[Mike Hohnstein]

Alternator regulator needs to be replaced.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: David Brady
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 12:48 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Weird electrical glitch


This evening, while driving from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, I
had a strange electrical phenomenon take place. I was cruising
at 75mph, just crested a 6% grade, engine temp was around 200
deg F, and suddenly I hear a beeping noise coming from my Trace
inverter remote controls, a "High Batter Voltage" alarm. I checked
the dash gauges and found that the alternator amp gauge was pegged
at 300 amps and the DC Volts Coach and DC Volts Engine were
pegged at 16 volts. This condition lasted for maybe 15 seconds.
I pulled off at the next exit ramp and inspected the inverters and
the alternator and load center wiring at the rear of the coach -
no obvious problems existed. The sun was setting so I got back
in the coach, started her up, and turned on the headlights only to
notice that I lost my driving lights. This seems to be the only issue
I've noticed thus far. We then motored down I-15 to Las Vegas using
the high beams. The next 200 miles were non-eventful. Any ideas
on what could have happened?

TIA,
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
Va


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gregory OConnor]

Drive lights relay or fuse melted open and grounded out?? I would
also check wires in the adjustable steering wheel?? I think the
daytime driving lamps are rheostat reduced high beams, maybe that
setup has issues?? Find an auto-electric mechanic with a British
accent ( Ron M and I surly agree they have experience)

Cher
( Mike, you were wide open)




Gregory O'Connor
94 PT Romoland California

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
wrote:
>
> This evening, while driving from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, I
> had a strange electrical phenomenon take place. I was cruising
> at 75mph, just crested a 6% grade, engine temp was around 200
> deg F, and suddenly I hear a beeping noise coming from my Trace
> inverter remote controls, a "High Batter Voltage" alarm. I checked
> the dash gauges and found that the alternator amp gauge was pegged
> at 300 amps and the DC Volts Coach and DC Volts Engine were
> pegged at 16 volts. This condition lasted for maybe 15 seconds.
> I pulled off at the next exit ramp and inspected the inverters and
> the alternator and load center wiring at the rear of the coach -
> no obvious problems existed. The sun was setting so I got back
> in the coach, started her up, and turned on the headlights only to
> notice that I lost my driving lights. This seems to be the only
issue
> I've noticed thus far. We then motored down I-15 to Las Vegas using
> the high beams. The next 200 miles were non-eventful. Any ideas
> on what could have happened?
>
> TIA,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> Va
>

[Blair]

Did you notice the smell of burning wire? Ozone? Strange lights?
You were not that far from area 51......

Blair in Oregon...........



At 10:48 PM 4/9/2006, you wrote:
>This evening, while driving from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, I
>had a strange electrical phenomenon take place. I was cruising
>at 75mph, just crested a 6% grade, engine temp was around 200
>deg F, and suddenly I hear a beeping noise coming from my Trace
>inverter remote controls, a "High Batter Voltage" alarm. I checked
>the dash gauges and found that the alternator amp gauge was pegged
>at 300 amps and the DC Volts Coach and DC Volts Engine were
>pegged at 16 volts. This condition lasted for maybe 15 seconds.
>I pulled off at the next exit ramp and inspected the inverters and
>the alternator and load center wiring at the rear of the coach -
>no obvious problems existed. The sun was setting so I got back
>in the coach, started her up, and turned on the headlights only to
>notice that I lost my driving lights. This seems to be the only issue
>I've noticed thus far. We then motored down I-15 to Las Vegas using
>the high beams. The next 200 miles were non-eventful. Any ideas
>on what could have happened?
>
>TIA,
>David Brady
>'02 LXi, Smokey
>Va
>
>
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>
>
>----------


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Suter]

Hi David,

If you were also running the generator at the time,
keep a future eye on the 110V voltage meters of the
two electrical legs for divergence - 130v 100v, for
example.

My first indication of eventual gen failure began
with pegging of the dash 12V amperage and 12V voltage
gauges which lead me to believe the engine alternator
regulator had problems-and BB may even have completed
a regulator mod, if I recall correctly.

The 110v divergence increased to 140 90 and
occasionally the dash meters would still peg for short
periods. 5-10 more gen hours and I had 240 0 and gen
stator failure at 650 gen hours and about 7 days
before gen warranty expiration.

Can't explain if/how two issues were connected,
except after new gen in '03, no more pegging. Oh,
also, like you, got high voltage beeping from Trace,
and from Norcold refrig digital read-out.
Furtunately, no damage from 240 0.

John Suter
2000LXi


--- David Brady wrote:

> This evening, while driving from Salt Lake City to
> Las Vegas, I
> had a strange electrical phenomenon take place. I
> was cruising
> at 75mph, just crested a 6% grade, engine temp was
> around 200
> deg F, and suddenly I hear a beeping noise coming
> from my Trace
> inverter remote controls, a "High Batter Voltage"
> alarm. I checked
> the dash gauges and found that the alternator amp
> gauge was pegged
> at 300 amps and the DC Volts Coach and DC Volts
> Engine were
> pegged at 16 volts. This condition lasted for maybe
> 15 seconds.
> I pulled off at the next exit ramp and inspected
> the inverters and
> the alternator and load center wiring at the rear of
> the coach -
> no obvious problems existed. The sun was setting so
> I got back
> in the coach, started her up, and turned on the
> headlights only to
> notice that I lost my driving lights. This seems to
> be the only issue
> I've noticed thus far. We then motored down I-15 to
> Las Vegas using
> the high beams. The next 200 miles were
> non-eventful. Any ideas
> on what could have happened?
>
> TIA,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> Va
>


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[David Brady]

Thanks Mike,

I'll start there. It turns out it's more difficult than I thought
it would be to locate a regulator. My Delco Remy part
number: 19020403 has been superseded by 10503807
which N. Las Vegas Freightliner needs 3 days to get.
Another interim part number is 10457698.

The regulator seems pretty simple to install. The only
touchy part is the voltage adjustment screw on the face
of the box. Does this need to be set?

Thanks
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
Va

Mike Hohnstein wrote:
> Alternator regulator needs to be replaced.
> Mike Hohnstein
> Germantown, WI
> 83FC35
> ----- Original Message -----
>

[David Brady]

Thanks John,

The generator was not running at the time.

When boondocking I have noticed voltage divergence
on the legs as you describe, but this is only when one
leg has a high load, and air conditioner for instance, and
the other has a light load. The divergence is never more
than 10 volts or so. I might get 110 and 120V for instance.

David

John Suter wrote:
> Hi David,
>
> If you were also running the generator at the time,
> keep a future eye on the 110V voltage meters of the
> two electrical legs for divergence - 130v 100v, for
> example.
>