Alternator Replacement

[Gregory OConnor]

Don, (crosspost)For your test. Could you drain the battery bank below
12 and
than jump start the bus??? or run the bus and tax the inverter at a
major AC amp load. Even more load by running the inverter maxed, head
lights, and 12 v lights and appliances in BlueThunderRadioShack.

I always assumed demand from the inverter was the reason the alts
were so big. On the go camping with big alts and inverter was like
being hooked up to Shorepower or like running the Genset while going
down the road.

Assumption- While the bus is running the alts are called on to
directly resupply amps consumed from the batteries by inverter and
12v appliances up to the max of their rated output. Batteries were
not used unless demand was greater then alt supply.????????????

?Is major amp, quick battery recharge a battery damage thing? How do
the two alts divide up the amp load demand???

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> My alternator replacement job is done, I'm happy to say.
>
> For memory refreshment, I had Alternator 1 with zero output, and
Alternator 2 with max 50-amps and unable to maintain voltage with
headlights on.
>
> Replacing the top-front one (under the bed) was easy. That one was
a 130-amp Prestolite. After replacement, and with the power cables
removed from the back one, the engine was started and showed 100 amps
on Alternator 1 at idle, zero on Alternator 2. Voltage was above 13.5
and amps dropped quickly as the start drop was replaced, even with
the headlights on.
>
> Replacing the back alternator was not easy at all. It sits under
the A/C pump, so I tried to drop it out the bottom, but there just
wasn't room to make it. The way the A/C pump is bracketed it was a
B***h to remove, and similar to replace, but I eventually got it
done. The removed alternator has no apparent markings anywhere, so I
don't know what it was or its rating.
>
> Running with the two new Leece-Neville 160-amp alternators the
output after startup is still 100 amps, shared equally between the
two. I guess that makes sense, but I had thought it would be higher.
I wish I had a way to draw down the batteries and still have enough
to start the engine, so I could see if it would show a higher charge
rate.
>
> Overall it was an interesting learning experience. I also replaced
the belts on Alternator 1, which showed some wear, but the others -
alternator 2 and the A/C pump - looked like new so I left them.
>
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA
>