Possible Alternator / Voltage regulator problem ... Or not?
< Samantha...my Co-Pilot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 768
Likes: 11
From: Fallon, Nevada
To protect the alternator I would say.
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Protect it from what? I can see them peaking at 160+ amps at first, but the amps goes down as they heat up. Once the light is off and the engine fires I cannot see them drawing more than 80 amps or so.
I haven't tested it, just guessing.
It's no wonder the batteries, crappy 6G alternator and FICM take such a beating.
Josh
I haven't tested it, just guessing.
It's no wonder the batteries, crappy 6G alternator and FICM take such a beating.
Josh
< Samantha...my Co-Pilot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 768
Likes: 11
From: Fallon, Nevada
Protect it from what? I can see them peaking at 160+ amps at first, but the amps goes down as they heat up. Once the light is off and the engine fires I cannot see them drawing more than 80 amps or so.
I haven't tested it, just guessing.
It's no wonder the batteries, crappy 6G alternator and FICM take such a beating.
Josh
I haven't tested it, just guessing.
It's no wonder the batteries, crappy 6G alternator and FICM take such a beating.
Josh
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 60
Take the 80 or so amps for the glow plugs and then add the rest of the electrical load for the engine electronics,fuel pump,lights,climate control, stereo...etc. With an alternator rated for 110 amps it is easy to see why the batteries and FICM and the alternator take a beating. Electrical/charging system maintainence is important for component longevity. These trucks should really have had an alternator rated for somewhere around 200 amps.
Gives new meaning to avoiding short trips when you factor in the alternator isn't even truly charging after cold/semi-sold starts.
Josh
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,066
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From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Take the 80 or so amps for the glow plugs and then add the rest of the electrical load for the engine electronics,fuel pump,lights,climate control, stereo...etc. With an alternator rated for 110 amps it is easy to see why the batteries and FICM and the alternator take a beating. Electrical/charging system maintainence is important for component longevity. These trucks should really have had an alternator rated for somewhere around 200 amps.
Folks are Money Ahead to switch to a DC Power alternator
My DC Power 190amp stays right on top of things
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Found this interesting tidbit...
According to this the alternator SHOULD be running during glowplug operation.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q91.pdf
Josh
According to this the alternator SHOULD be running during glowplug operation.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q91.pdf
Josh
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,911
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That wrote up is referencing dual alternators.
Purpose:
This bulletin is intended to address the need to remove an alternator from 2003 MY and beyond F-Series Super
Duty (F-250/350/450/550) trucks equipped with the 6.0L Diesel engine and dual alternators
Purpose:
This bulletin is intended to address the need to remove an alternator from 2003 MY and beyond F-Series Super
Duty (F-250/350/450/550) trucks equipped with the 6.0L Diesel engine and dual alternators
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Josh
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I see what you are saying - it is implied that the desire is to retain that capability in the conversion..
I would recommend you getting an inductive (clamp on) ammeter and checking the single alternator current at cranking and for the first bit of time on start-up. That is the best way to decide what to believe. Several of us have done this and we saw that the alternator was not immediately producing - didn't take 2 minutes to come on line though.
Interestingly enough, my stock alternator did not produce current at first start-up with this test, but my DCPower one does.
I would recommend you getting an inductive (clamp on) ammeter and checking the single alternator current at cranking and for the first bit of time on start-up. That is the best way to decide what to believe. Several of us have done this and we saw that the alternator was not immediately producing - didn't take 2 minutes to come on line though.
Interestingly enough, my stock alternator did not produce current at first start-up with this test, but my DCPower one does.
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I think it's likely the small case 6G just isn't built to handle dual batteries and glow plugs.
The small case 6G is supposed to be rated at 110 amps, but performs worse than the old small case 3G which was rated at 95.
The large case 130 amp 3G was a workhorse. It was just too big for Ford's smaller and lighter quest and in the end all the electronics suffer for it.
The 6G doesn't work too bad in a car or even an Explorer, but in a dual battery diesel not so much.
Josh
The small case 6G is supposed to be rated at 110 amps, but performs worse than the old small case 3G which was rated at 95.
The large case 130 amp 3G was a workhorse. It was just too big for Ford's smaller and lighter quest and in the end all the electronics suffer for it.
The 6G doesn't work too bad in a car or even an Explorer, but in a dual battery diesel not so much.
Josh
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