8V92 alternator questions

[Don Bradner]

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
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> ----- 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"
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Don Bradner
http://www.arcatapet.net