Charging Problem

[Steve Johnson]

Hi Everybody,

I went out to the bus, and even though it was plugged in, the low
battery buzzer was buzzing. I checked the voltage at the batteries,
and it was only 3.68v. I checked the connection where the chargers
tie into the battery cable and it was 12.53v. I then unplugged one
charger at a time and found one was 12.35v and the other 11.28v. I
unhooked the chargers from the battery cable and then checked the
batteries and they had dropped to 3.5v. With no load (unhooked from
the battery cables) one charger then measured 14.68v and the other
13.64v. In the charger compartment, with the chargers unplugged, the
voltage on the battery cables was only 42mv. I then hooked my home
charger from the garage up to the battery cables in the charger
compartment and it measured 10.48v. So, I hooked that charger
directly to the batteries and the voltage slowly rose from 13 to
13.95v. Viola! Charging! Back in the compartment the voltage on the
end of the battery cables was only 210mv. It seems to me I have a
connection problem between the batteries and the charger compartment.
But, last summer I took them all apart, cleaned all of them, and
replaced questionable cables. I had the charging system really up to
snuff. Bottom line is, it is cold and wet here, and I really don't
relish climbing around under the bus right now. Have I missed
something before I bite that bullet?

Thank you.

Steve Johnson
Grand Rapids, MI
'82 FC 35

[jburgessx2]

I bought our 85 PT40 in January and drove it from Missouri to
California. I did quite a bit of night driving and noticed the
headlights would get dimmer and dimmer. I checked the engine volt
meter and it was draining vice charging. I started watching the guage
and noticed it would occasionally start charging and the lights would
brighten. But, it didn't do it often enough. I started the generator
and it immediately started charging and continued to charge.

I'm not sure if I have a voltage regulator issue, loose connection, or
an alternator problem. I wouldn't think it was the alternator because
it would charge occasionally. If it is a voltage regulator problem,
where would it be located and are they easy to buy?

As always, I appreciate the help. I'm narrowing down my list of fixes
and finally starting to feel like I'm getting the upper hand.

Jerry
85 PT40
Port Hueneme, CA

[ronmarabito2002]

It is a alternator problem probably. The voltage regulator is
internal. You need to have it re-built.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jburgessx2"
wrote:
>
> I bought our 85 PT40 in January and drove it from Missouri to
> California. I did quite a bit of night driving and noticed the
> headlights would get dimmer and dimmer. I checked the engine volt
> meter and it was draining vice charging. I started watching the guage
> and noticed it would occasionally start charging and the lights would
> brighten. But, it didn't do it often enough. I started the generator
> and it immediately started charging and continued to charge.
>
> I'm not sure if I have a voltage regulator issue, loose connection, or
> an alternator problem. I wouldn't think it was the alternator because
> it would charge occasionally. If it is a voltage regulator problem,
> where would it be located and are they easy to buy?
>
> As always, I appreciate the help. I'm narrowing down my list of fixes
> and finally starting to feel like I'm getting the upper hand.
>
> Jerry
> 85 PT40
> Port Hueneme, CA
>

[hippieforever3]

I agree. Pull the alternator and take it to a place that rebuilds them.
DO NOT just take it to a parts store and get an exchange (more money
and less support).

Ask in parts stores where starters and alternators are rebuilt locally.
This is worth the extra effort.

I had a "flaky" starter on my gen-set and the shop told me exactly why
it acted strange making me more comfortable that I really had the
problem fixed. Also I had to take it back because the new gear and
clutch they put in didn't meshwith the fly-wheel about one time in ten.
Very annoying. They gladly put in a different brand of gear and now it
works perfectly, every time.

Regards,
GPSGary

[Ernie Ekberg]

When our old pal, Tom Meservey was at our place a few years back, he had alternator problems, also. A place in Ft Worth that specializes in alternators and startors rebuilt it very quickly. The most frustrating thing for me is to take a part or ask for a certain part at the auto parts store. They immediately want to know what car it is on. Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Sun, 2/8/09, hippieforever3 wrote: From: hippieforever3 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Charging problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 1:28 PM I agree. Pull the alternator and take it to a place that rebuilds them. DO NOT just take it to a parts store and get an exchange (more money and less support). Ask in parts stores where starters and alternators are rebuilt locally. This is worth the extra effort. I had a "flaky" starter on my gen-set and the shop told me exactly why it acted strange making me more comfortable that I really had the problem fixed. Also I had to take it back because the new gear and clutch they put in didn't meshwith the fly-wheel about one time in ten. Very annoying. They gladly put in a different brand of gear and now it works perfectly, every time. Regards, GPSGary

[hippieforever3]

> They immediately want to know what car it is on.
>
I tell them, "My house". That sets them back.

Regards,
GPSGary

[Ernie Ekberg]

Touche' Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Sun, 2/8/09, hippieforever3 wrote: From: hippieforever3 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Charging problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 3:34 PM > They immediately want to know what car it is on. > I tell them, "My house". That sets them back. Regards, GPSGary

[jburgessx2]

Ron,

Thanks. I didn't know the regulator was internal on this. I'll pull
the alternator and take it in for a rebuild.

Jerry
85 PT40
Port Hueneme, CA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
wrote:
>
> It is a alternator problem probably. The voltage regulator is
> internal. You need to have it re-built.
>
> R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jburgessx2"
> wrote:
> >
> > I bought our 85 PT40 in January and drove it from Missouri to
> > California. I did quite a bit of night driving and noticed the
> > headlights would get dimmer and dimmer. I checked the engine
volt
> > meter and it was draining vice charging. I started watching the
guage
> > and noticed it would occasionally start charging and the lights
would
> > brighten. But, it didn't do it often enough. I started the
generator
> > and it immediately started charging and continued to charge.
> >
> > I'm not sure if I have a voltage regulator issue, loose
connection, or
> > an alternator problem. I wouldn't think it was the alternator
because
> > it would charge occasionally. If it is a voltage regulator
problem,
> > where would it be located and are they easy to buy?
> >
> > As always, I appreciate the help. I'm narrowing down my list of
fixes
> > and finally starting to feel like I'm getting the upper hand.
> >
> > Jerry
> > 85 PT40
> > Port Hueneme, CA
> >
>

[GARY MINKER]

Just in case it is not the alternator, you have 2 shunts and 10 bolted connections between the alternator and the batteries. Don't just pull the alternator, get in there with a volt meter and know your enemy Gary --- On Sun, 2/8/09, ronmarabito2002 wrote: From: ronmarabito2002 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Charging problem To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 12:21 PM It is a alternator problem probably. The voltage regulator is internal. You need to have it re-built. R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40 --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "jburgessx2" wrote: > > I bought our 85 PT40 in January and drove it from Missouri to > California. I did quite a bit of night driving and noticed the > headlights would get dimmer and dimmer. I checked the engine volt > meter and it was draining vice charging. I started watching the guage > and noticed it would occasionally start charging and the lights would > brighten. But, it didn't do it often enough. I started the generator > and it immediately started charging and continued to charge. > > I'm not sure if I have a voltage regulator issue, loose connection, or > an alternator problem. I wouldn't think it was the alternator because > it would charge occasionally. If it is a voltage regulator problem, > where would it be located and are they easy to buy? > > As always, I appreciate the help. I'm narrowing down my list of fixes > and finally starting to feel like I'm getting the upper hand. > > Jerry > 85 PT40 > Port Hueneme, CA >

[jburgessx2]

I finally had the time to test the voltage at the alternator and
determined it was bad. The power was none existent followed by short
periods of charging and immediately back to zero.

I did find a place online that has new Leece Neville 160 amp units
for $115.00, which seems like a good price to me! So, I guess I'll
be ordering and installing a new one. The new ones are one-wire
units vice the three-wire units and, according to the tech, will
install and work without problems.

Thanks for the help.

Jerry
85 PT40
Port Hueneme, CA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, GARY MINKER
wrote:
>
> Just in case it is not the alternator, you have 2 shunts and 10
bolted connections between the alternator and the batteries.  Don't
just pull the alternator, get in there with a volt meter and know
your enemy
> Gary
>
>
> --- On Sun, 2/8/09, ronmarabito2002 wrote:
>
> From: ronmarabito2002
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Charging problem
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 12:21 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> It is a alternator problem probably. The voltage
regulator is
>
> internal. You need to have it re-built.
>
>
>
> R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "jburgessx2"

>
> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > I bought our 85 PT40 in January and drove it from Missouri to
>
> > California. I did quite a bit of night driving and noticed the
>
> > headlights would get dimmer and dimmer. I checked the engine
volt
>
> > meter and it was draining vice charging. I started watching the
guage
>
> > and noticed it would occasionally start charging and the lights
would
>
> > brighten. But, it didn't do it often enough. I started the
generator
>
> > and it immediately started charging and continued to charge.
>
> >
>
> > I'm not sure if I have a voltage regulator issue, loose
connection, or
>
> > an alternator problem. I wouldn't think it was the alternator
because
>
> > it would charge occasionally. If it is a voltage regulator
problem,
>
> > where would it be located and are they easy to buy?
>
> >
>
> > As always, I appreciate the help. I'm narrowing down my list of
fixes
>
> > and finally starting to feel like I'm getting the upper hand.
>
> >
>
> > Jerry
>
> > 85 PT40
>
> > Port Hueneme, CA
>
> >
>