Help! Just installed a new 185amp DCPower alternator with new cables this past weekend. Before was reading 11.5-12.8 battery volts on the CTS with occasional battery light going down the road. Now, the CTS is reading 15.9 volts and I'm getting the overvoltage error code and all the dash gauges, radio, ac, power windows etc are not working.

Ideas?


Thanks

 

Have you cleaned all cables especialy the Grounds and where they mount to fram and engine

if that^^ dont help then might have bad voltage regulator

 

Grounds cleaned when I did the install. I've got the red cable going directly between alternator and battery (with in-line fuse). I went off other pictures with the new DCPower alternator installed.

 

Is the sensing wire connected?

 

Sensing wire? Don't really understand your question. The small connector (2 pin) is connected at the alternator and the new 0 guage waire from DCPower is connected at the alternator and battery. No pigtails off of that wire on either end.

 

What did you do with the factory 4 gauge charge wire that comes from the OEM alternator?

 

Here's what I've done so far. Talked to the folks at DC. They said that the pigtail harness should be pushing 12.6 volts with Key On. That checked OK. I disconnected the 0 gauge wire from DC and re-hooked up the OEM wire from the Alternator and Battery. Drove home, 13.6-13.8 volts and no problems going home. Called DC on the way home and talked to I believe Owen about my problem. He stated that on the Powerstrokes he has found out that you have to hook up both the OEM and the new 0 gauge wire. Truck seems to be OK in the driveway pushing 13.6 at idle. Haven't driven the truck on the road last couple of days since it's nice so the motorcycle is the commute ride right now. Will try and take the truck into town for supper and a test run.

 

News to me.... I just wrapped up the factory lead real good and ran the 1 gauge from the upgrade kit and I have not had any problems at all. Charge rate stays around 14.0 to 14.7 volts almost all of the time.

 

I would be concerned about boiling the batteries if the charge never went below 14 volts unless you have some heavy duty stereo equip. or something.

 

It will drop to 13.8 if driving down the highway for any length of time. I do have a stereo system with an amp but I seldom have it turned up loud..... unless it's a sweet day! Most of the driving I do is maybe 30 to 45 minutes worth at a time.

 

I will vary from 12.8 up to 13.8 once in a while 14. Has done this since new and have never had a problem. Original alt. if your interested.

 

Wow! Yours has done well if you are on your first alternator and it's still OEM (that's seven years!). I just replaced my second OEM with the DC unit awhile back. I had gone through an OEM 110 amp alternator under warranty and the last one seemed to always stay at 12.8 to 13.2 volts. As soon as I installed the DC it jumped up to 14.7 and of course came down after driving around for a bit. Happy with it so far.

 

Just make sure you keep an eye on your battery water. Too much voltage is just as bad as too little.