8V92 alternator questions

[Leroy Eckert]

I tend to agree with your concerns. My alternator behind the rear bumper failed
and I was not aware of it. On the road my #1 alternator failed and left me with
the generator. That really wasn't a problem.. The #1 alternator was a 160amp
variety if I recall and when I pulled the #2 it was 135amp. I put a 160amp
alternator back. All of this is from memory at the moment, I could look in my
paper work and verify. It has been almost 3 years without problems. I even had
Coachcraft by McDonald, Columbus GA a BB service center look at the switch for
me when I retrofitted the Wabasto and they could not figure it out either. I
changed all the wires, cleaned connections and nothing changed at the switch.
Soooo, I unplugged the !@#$ light. A little bit of redneck engineering there.
Kinda like if the rattle bothers you , turn up the radio. lol

You have 6v batteries? Interesting mine are 12v, bank of 6.
A lot of weird differences in these coaches, eh?

Typically, in terms of time, depending if the a/c, lights, inverter output,
etc. are utilized, it may take 30 minutes for the amp meter to settle at 50 amp
in my coach. I'd suggest starting the coach and checking the output of both
alternators, if they have output you may be ok. Also, check the rating, someone
may have placed a lesser output value on the coach. 160's are not easy to find
and are not cheap. Just a thought.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL


----- Original Message -----
From: Don Bradner
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] 8V92 alternator questions


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
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- 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"
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Don Bradner
http://www.arcatapet.net





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