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6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

start up current draws......

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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 08:45 PM
  #16  
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I wast testing the maximun output of my new alternator by using the max hold on my meter. Turned on a/c to high, headlights, seat heaters & inverter with 2 hair dryers loading the alternator to the max
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 08:46 PM
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I do not have dual alternators and the alternator started charging immediately.

The excite wire was initiated once the engine started. Not hard to understand.

Might help the read the entire PDF instead of just the first sentence too to understand what Ford is saying about alternator operation.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:06 PM
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Here is the relevent part of the PDF as posted https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12261348

Background:
The 6.0L Diesel engine Powertrain Control Module (PCM) will randomly select only one of the alternators to be active when the glow plugs are active. There is no way to tell the PCM that one of the alternators has been removed, so the removed alternator may be selected by the PCM. The lack of a working alternator during glow plug activation would result in discharged batteries.


For the reading disabled, this the procedure to eliminate 1 alternator out of the dual alternator set-up. Or put simply, turning a dual alternator into a single alternator.

And notice:

"The lack of a working alternator during glow plug activation would result in discharged batteries. "

Interesting choice of words and implies a functioning alternator is mandatory after starting the engine. Not, 30 seconds later or 2 minutes later or whatever.

What I believe is occuring is most everyone is not understanding the 6G is a slow start alternator. It isn't an INSTANT ON like the 3G etc. It takes it's time to ramp up to operating voltage.

Josh
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by cheezit
I am by noway surprised by the numbers. if anything they are just a little lower then I would have guessed ( 725 was my guess)
So you believed 700 amps was going thru little 14 gauge wiring to the glow plugs?

Josh
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Fulthrotl


cranking, 685 amps. vehicle starts immediately.

are these numbers typical in your guys experience?
I see you have much more knowledge then I do on this matter.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:12 PM
  #21  
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Bullitt -

What comes from the battery has no bearing on whether or not the alternator is generating ..............

Also - voltage is not the best test, it is amperage (B+) that needs to be measured.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by bismic
Bullitt -

What comes from the battery has no bearing on whether or not the alternator is generating ..............

Also - voltage is not the test, it is amperage that needs to be measured.
You do understand there are 3 wires to the alternator correct?

The main charge wire.
The source or "A" wire
The excite or "I" wire.

Main and "A" are always hot.

Excite or "I" wire is switched on. If "I" is exited the alternator is charging. How well depends on many factors, but there is no "time-out" occurring and goes against what I have observed and what I am reading from Ford.

Do you have something in writing that proves otherwise?

Josh
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:22 PM
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The temprature has a lot to do with the cranking amps. With the temp around 0, i would think the cold cranking amps would be close to 1000 amps. When i saturated my alternator, i noticed the voltage began to fall to 12 volts. The top inside winding of the alternator was at 280 degrees fahrenheit!
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:31 PM
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I have posted up lots of information - from Ford. Do a search if you are interested. It is in the PC/ED manual IIRC - and yes, I understand the wiring of the alternator. BTW - the I circuit serves two purposes - not just to excite the alternator, but to set a gauge panel light when appropriate.

You can start with this thread ...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...couple-of.html
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:35 PM
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both wires are not always hot either. one is hot all times the other is hot only koeo and koer.
if they were both hot at all time you would have other issues like a voltage draw giving you dead battereis.
also when adding or deleting an alternator there is a function that needs to be changed with the ids.
also this is very much tied into the gpcm timer. do your reading on that.
next go stright to the batter and see what the output is at b+. that will provide the awnser.
This is the same basic setup used on the 7.3 as well.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:42 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by cheezit
both wires are not always hot either. one is hot all times the other is hot only koeo and koer.
if they were both hot at all time you would have other issues like a voltage draw giving you dead battereis.
also when adding or deleting an alternator there is a function that needs to be changed with the ids.
also this is very much tied into the gpcm timer. do your reading on that.
next go stright to the batter and see what the output is at b+. that will provide the awnser.
This is the same basic setup used on the 7.3 as well.
LOL... either you are repeating what I wrote to sound smart or are just not reading what I wrote in the first place.

Josh
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:45 PM
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I just read the link/post that mark shared and it looks like the glow plugs cycle depending on the eot for about 2 min, then the alt kicks in to charge up the batteries. The 6.0 manual & circuit diagram were not updated!
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by bismic
I have posted up lots of information - from Ford. Do a search if you are interested. It is in the PC/ED manual IIRC - and yes, I understand the wiring of the alternator. BTW - the I circuit serves two purposes - not just to excite the alternator, but to set a gauge panel light when appropriate.

You can start with this thread ...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...couple-of.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9561590

These PDF's back up what I am saying... the "I" wire is excited at Key-on and the alternator begins charging immediately.

As I said I just tested this out this morning and this afternoon.

Where is a document of this supposed HEC nonesense? A lot of hearsay is spewed after Post #20.

Josh
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:59 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Bullitt390
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9561590

These PDF's back up what I am saying... the "I" wire is excited at Key-on and the alternator begins charging immediately.

As I said I just tested this out this morning and this afternoon.

Where is a document of this supposed HEC nonesense? A lot of hearsay is spewed after Post #20.

Josh
The real test of this would be in 60 degree or less temprature/weather. Shure now the eot allows the alternator to start working right away, because the glow plugs are not needed for long at your temprature.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2012 | 10:17 PM
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The point is that three people have used clamp-on ammeters to show that the alternator is not producing at first. A very competent Ford Tech says this also. You claim otherwise. Basically you are saying that 4 people don't know what they are talking about and/or don't know how to use a clamp on ammeter. Maybe it is true, maybe not. I suggest folks just find a way to do the test on the B+ circuit. That is the proof. As for me, I don't mind being proven wrong, I just would like to see the proper test done.
 
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