The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Coping with energy demands

Lately, the truck either wont start, or wont start twice. Last night it was chilly, i killed it, and was stuck in the middle of the road! I'm looking for some solution to this energy demand issue. I have a radio, two 6x9 speakers and one more smaller speaker. Also, power steering (not factory) and that makes the grab on the generator pulley smaller, but I don't think its slipping. When I turn my headlights on the radio dies for a couple seconds. Would a modern alternator conversion help? Or changing out the size of the pulleys? Or do I just need to stop asking so much of this poor old generator?

Hunter

I don't think it's an issue of energy managment, but could be wrong. As you stated, I think you have generator/regulator and/or battery problems. Have a look at your generator output in amps. If thats ok and your battery also checks out then you very well may have a current drain somewhere else (like leaving the lights on). I think the best way to solve electrical problems is to 'divide and counquer' ie. split the generator and rest of system. Find out which is causing the problem, then repair. Forgot to say, you could have bad grounds also.Good luck.

You need to find out what the system is doing. First step is a GOOD ammeter (30 or 50 A) and voltmeter (15V or so) - NOT radio shack stuff.

With everything off put ammeter in series with battery. Lite bulb is good for this test also - no lite = no current therefore you have nothing left on (brake lites etc)

Next install ammeter between generator and battery. Install voltmeter across battery. Crank up and read amps at idle - rev to 1500 and see what amps are. Read volts also. After start amps should be high say 50 or so and should die off as battery recharges. Volts should be 2.2 to 2.5 x battery cells ie about 7 for a six.
As amps die off volts may rise a little.

Now turn on loads one at a time and watch amps and volts.

Now for book work. You need to know capacity of generator. Once you have rated capacity then you can decide if you are overloading it OR you have other problems - quite likely adjust regulator.

While doing all this a quick n dirty check for bad terminals or wire is to check temperature with fingertip -- hot means bad wire (undersized) or a bad connection.

Dan Bentler

Leitmotry is correct but I'd do it a little different. Instead of using an inline ampmeter I'd use a clip on type if you can find/borrow one. Just easier. If you do use an inline type remember...there will be a plus and minus at the inputs of the meter. The negitive side of the meter goes to or toward the neg. post of the battery or the plus side goes to the positive post on the battery.

Well i followed instructions, and it now starts every time. I had a bad ground, but i have many grounds on it. The one that tore off was more of a back-up. When I turn on the lights the radio still goes out for a minute, so I'll re-check my regulator. Thanks

Check for body to frame grounds and engine to frame grounds. You can easily see the problems one ground can cause. Then engine sits on rubber mounts and so does the cab/body. Grounds have to be run around those to get stuff in the dash to work correctly.

best wishes,

Les

Boy do i feel stupid! Turns out there was a crack in the battery. Bought a new, bigger one last week and all of my problems disappeared

bad grounds can turn out to be one of your biggest nightmares.

like an old timer keeps telling me. " costs money to go to school"