Alternator Charging Problem

[D]

Hey All!

I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.

This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is the
trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
alternator.

I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
from my office.

Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.


Dru and Debora
83 FC 35 RB
Steady Gittin' It!

[Chuck Wheeler]

It sounds like a alternator or regulator but the operation you describe does not sound normal. The voltage should be form about 13.2 to 14.5 depending on the temperature. If you have been running on the batteries for awhile the voltage will usually be lower as the batteries charge up then settle in around 14v. It may drop a little with the running lights on but at 12v you are not charging the batteries. Do not trust the dash gauge. Use a good multimeter and check the output of the alternator and the voltage at the batteries.I do not have a isolator so I do not know it's impact butdue to wire loss I have about.2vlower voltage at the batteries than at the alternator. I have a different brand alternator with a remote regulator so that the regulator senses the battery temperature instead of the dog house temperature so I cannot speak to the constant 12v on the trigger wire. My regulator does not have power when the ignition is off.

- Chuck Wheeler-

1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX

---

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of D
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:28 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Alternator Charging Problem

Hey All!

I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.

This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is the
trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
alternator.

I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
from my office.

Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.

Dru and Debora
83 FC 35 RB
Steady Gittin' It!

[Peggy & Ed McStay]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "D" wrote:
>
> Hey All!
>
> I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
> A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
> it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
> voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
> dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
> lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.
>
> This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is
the
> trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
> off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
> being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
> alternator.
>
> I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
> I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
> from my office.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.
>
>
> Dru and Debora
> 83 FC 35 RB
> Steady Gittin' It!
>



dru- this setup that you have is just how mine is set up. this
trigger wire stays hot all the time. before you remove the alt. check
the trigger wire and see if its making good contact with your hot
bar. at one time mine had a broken wire and would not charge. i found
that this was my trouble. replaced the trigger wire and it charges
great. hope this helps.

ed mcstay
"lonesome dove"
83-35ft-rb

[Don Bradner]

I think it is normal for the exciter to be hot all of the time. A lot of times
when you are seeing low voltage it is because the main chassis ground needs
cleaning. Where the ground wire from the batteries is tied to the chassis. The
hot terminal probably needs cleaning as well, but the ground is the biggest
culprit.

On 1/13/2009 at 5:28 PM D wrote:

>Hey All!
>
>I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
>A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
>it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
>voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
>dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
>lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.
>
>This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is the
>trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
>off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
>being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
>alternator.
>
>I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
>I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
>from my office.
>
>Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.
>
>
>Dru and Debora
>83 FC 35 RB
>Steady Gittin' It!
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[D]

Thanks for all the information on my problem. I placed a volt meter
on the back of my alternator last eve and after moving the variable
regulator an 1/8th turn each direciton and cleaning up some wires to
make sure corrosion was not my problem, I'm getting readings around
14 volts. However, at the batts I getting what the dash volt guage
says, about 12.3-12.5 volts. At the isolator, I am getting the same
reading at the alt/battery charger input. At the battery terminals of
the isoltor, I have the drop to the 12.5 volts. I have suspected this
thing before, but with all the other inconsistencies at the
alternator, I've never been sure. It really is multiple problems. I
think I'm geeting close and I really appreciate the input.

Thanks to all!

Dru and Debora Penland
83 FC 35 RB
Steady Gittin' It!

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "D" wrote:
>
> Hey All!
>
> I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
> A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
> it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
> voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
> dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
> lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.
>
> This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is
the
> trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
> off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
> being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
> alternator.
>
> I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
> I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
> from my office.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.
>
>
> Dru and Debora
> 83 FC 35 RB
> Steady Gittin' It!
>

[pattypape]

Dru,

As the batteries recharge, the voltage should climb a bit.
There is always a voltage drop across the isolator, could be a 1/2
volt, and sometimes the dash voltmeter is not accurate reading 1/2 or
less voltage, Recheck your readings using the battery charger.
And give it some battery charger time.

Bill 88 FC Michigan


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "D" wrote:
>
> Thanks for all the information on my problem. I placed a volt meter
> on the back of my alternator last eve and after moving the variable
> regulator an 1/8th turn each direciton and cleaning up some wires
to
> make sure corrosion was not my problem, I'm getting readings around
> 14 volts. However, at the batts I getting what the dash volt guage
> says, about 12.3-12.5 volts. At the isolator, I am getting the same
> reading at the alt/battery charger input. At the battery terminals
of
> the isoltor, I have the drop to the 12.5 volts. I have suspected
this
> thing before, but with all the other inconsistencies at the
> alternator, I've never been sure. It really is multiple problems. I
> think I'm geeting close and I really appreciate the input.
>
> Thanks to all!
>
> Dru and Debora Penland
> 83 FC 35 RB
> Steady Gittin' It!
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "D" wrote:
> >
> > Hey All!
> >
> > I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece
Neville
> > A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I
had
> > it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
> > voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
> > dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving).
With
> > lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.
> >
> > This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is
> the
> > trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with
key
> > off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that
wire
> > being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
> > alternator.
> >
> > I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery
isolator.
> > I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them
out
> > from my office.
> >
> > Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy
query.
> >
> >
> > Dru and Debora
> > 83 FC 35 RB
> > Steady Gittin' It!
> >
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

Dru,

That is too much drop across the isolator. If you can see the label make sure it can handle the current the alternator puts out it may have been replaced sometime.Isolators have diodes in them and they will deteriorate over time especially in high temperatures. I would also check the batteries, if they are near full discharge the will draw the reading down and of course check all connections. You should see about .6v drop across the isolator when the batteries are fully charged.

- Chuck Wheeler-

1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX

---

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of D
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:20 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Alternator Charging Problem

Thanks for all the information on my problem. I placed a volt meter
on the back of my alternator last eve and after moving the variable
regulator an 1/8th turn each direciton and cleaning up some wires to
make sure corrosion was not my problem, I'm getting readings around
14 volts. However, at the batts I getting what the dash volt guage
says, about 12.3-12.5 volts. At the isolator, I am getting the same
reading at the alt/battery charger input. At the battery terminals of
the isoltor, I have the drop to the 12.5 volts. I have suspected this
thing before, but with all the other inconsistencies at the
alternator, I've never been sure. It really is multiple problems. I
think I'm geeting close and I really appreciate the input.

Thanks to all!

Dru and Debora Penland
83 FC 35 RB
Steady Gittin' It!

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "D" ...> wrote:
>
> Hey All!
>
> I've been experiencing intermittened charging from my Leece Neville
> A0017704JA alternator and now not getting anything out of it. I had
> it rebuilt about 2 years ago (7000 miles) and this last summer my
> voltage meter would hit 14 volts for a short few minutes and then
> dips just under 12 volts for a long time (night time driving). With
> lights off my voltage hovers around 12 volts.
>
> This alternator has a pig tail on the regulator which I figure is
the
> trigger wire (14 guage)? It appears to be live (12 volts) with key
> off or on. So this has been on All The Time. Wondering if that wire
> being energized all the time could damage the regulator or
> alternator.
>
> I am wondering if this could be a malfunctioning battery isolator.
> I'm rambling with lots of ideas without being able to try them out
> from my office.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy query.
>
>
> Dru and Debora
> 83 FC 35 RB
> Steady Gittin' It!
>