So the weather turns to snow. And the truck decides today I will not start. 52 1/2 ton converted to 12 Volts and an alternator(old type external regulator). So I do my usual things. Battery Volts, 12.35, so not too bad. Outside temps..about 30 degrees, so not too cold. 12 inches of snow, PITA but nothing special about that. Dark, Wait till tomorrow. Next day, almost 40 degrees, and truck says OK lets go...Wait..go now? OK. Check Volts at the battery, 12.35 running. Something is not working. Amp gauge goes from discharge to center, but no higher. Output at the alternator...12.35. Hummmm. I have a spare, so in it goes. Output at the battery, 12.35 Volts...what? Look at the regulator...solid state like my old 67. Plug covers the terminals. No safe probe points on this one. OK, I have a spare. Changed out and...14.56 Volts at the battery. Yeah! Pull the cover off the solid state for a look. Block of resin with bits underneath. Not fixable. The spare? mechanical so I can mess with it if I like. Truck is happy and I have fixed it one more time. Found a generator and a proper Voltage Regulator. Spring project. You gotta love these old trucks. I did pull the "old" alternator apart. The brushes were worn down, a lot. So that had to fail soon. The solid state regulator? I think it will take about 100 thousand years to break down in a land fill.
