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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 | Have a 350 installed in a street rod. The alternator, water pump, a/c compressor and such are ‘bling’ aftermarket stuff. The alternator is a small single wire unit like PowerMaster sells, but is not a Power Master.
Some time ago my battery started to discharge when car sat for awhile. I chased the current path and found that the alternator had 1/2 amp going from the main buss, where the #6 wire from the alternator is tied to starter and battery, to ground. My thinking was leaking diode in alternator. Install a very high current switch in battery circuit to isolate battery from system with car off. The reason, at the time my local old time generator, starter, etc. shop could not fix this new small alternator.
Well, finally decided to fix it. Removed alternator and took to same shop where they now have experience with these small high current alternators. They looked and tested and tell me nothing is wrong.
Before to took it to them I used a analog ohm meter to check the reverse bias of the diode pack. It measured about 100k ohms. That surprised me so to took a 12 volt battery charger and hooked it up to the alternator with an analog amp meter in series. The amp meter read 2-1/2amps. Ok then, this diode pack is leaking. The alternator shop says it ain’t. What the heck am I missing.
Am in process of checking for a ground path in system without alternator installed. Got sidetracked Saturday, a local guy gave me a 1957 two door hardtop sport coupe, all orginial. Couldn’t turn it down.
Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,439 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,439 | I've got a similar problem, actually a couple of problems. My battery will discharge in about 3 days if I don't keep a tender on it. I did notice that the "volt meter" always shows the voltage of the battery, key on and key off.
My other problem is not enough shop space or time to get under the dash to see how my father wired it up. (It's a popular aftermarket wiring harness).
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 | Put a continuous-duty solenoid switch like the ones used as a coach battery isolator on motorhomes between the alternator and the battery. The battery can't self-discharge if the circuit is physically disconnected from the rectifier. Energize the relay with a wire from the hot side of the ignition coil.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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