Batt Light
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From: Yakistan, WA
Installed the DC Power 185 alternator.
Last question to this thread:
The battery light still comes on with key on engine off. I don't remember it doing that before. But is NOT present when engine is running. I cheked the water levels in each battery, and charged each battery individually to 12.85v on passenger and 12.9v on drivers side. Alternator is putting out 13.6v to 13.8v at idle, and 13.8v to 14.3v when driving. Any ideas or am I just being paranoid. I just do not remember ever seeing that battery light before start, previously.
Last question to this thread:
The battery light still comes on with key on engine off. I don't remember it doing that before. But is NOT present when engine is running. I cheked the water levels in each battery, and charged each battery individually to 12.85v on passenger and 12.9v on drivers side. Alternator is putting out 13.6v to 13.8v at idle, and 13.8v to 14.3v when driving. Any ideas or am I just being paranoid. I just do not remember ever seeing that battery light before start, previously.
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From: Yakistan, WA
Only thing I could think of was the batteries.
So I unhooked the batteries and found the passenger side to be at 12.5v and the drivers side to be at 12.7v with the multimeter. So I am going to let the batteries charge for 1 hour each. Then I will retest the batteries with multimeter and again, but this time I will wait 1 hour after each battery is done chargering.
I think the 20 minutes I put on each battery was not long enough for charging. And I did not wait long enough to check them with the multimeter.
So I unhooked the batteries and found the passenger side to be at 12.5v and the drivers side to be at 12.7v with the multimeter. So I am going to let the batteries charge for 1 hour each. Then I will retest the batteries with multimeter and again, but this time I will wait 1 hour after each battery is done chargering.
I think the 20 minutes I put on each battery was not long enough for charging. And I did not wait long enough to check them with the multimeter.
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From: Yakistan, WA
Okay guys, I am really in need of some help here. I feel like I am dancing by myself on this. Any advice or thoughts would be great.
I went and charged my batteries to 12.88v on passenger and 12.9v on drivers side, and that's after I let them sit for an hour after charging.
These are all multimeter results. During cranking the lowest I saw was 10.96v.
My battery light with key on engine off won't go away. Like I have stated before it goes away once I start it.
I don't know what to do. I wonder if I fried something that won't let it the light go away.
Maybe complete battery replacements?
During idle, during glow plug usage I am seeing voltages from 11.8v to 12.4v.
After glow plugs shut off at idle I am seeing 13.5v to 14.1v
I don't know what I am missing.
Thank - P
I went and charged my batteries to 12.88v on passenger and 12.9v on drivers side, and that's after I let them sit for an hour after charging.
These are all multimeter results. During cranking the lowest I saw was 10.96v.
My battery light with key on engine off won't go away. Like I have stated before it goes away once I start it.
I don't know what to do. I wonder if I fried something that won't let it the light go away.
Maybe complete battery replacements?
During idle, during glow plug usage I am seeing voltages from 11.8v to 12.4v.
After glow plugs shut off at idle I am seeing 13.5v to 14.1v
I don't know what I am missing.
Thank - P
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,097
Likes: 23
From: Kissimmee,Fla
I hate to tell ya(or it's good to tell ya),I believe your truck is working right now and wasn't before. The gauge cluster sees the alt not working so the light is on,the exciter on the alt tells the cluster it's working so it shuts the light off.....got it?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,834
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From: Jersey Shore
From the service manual:
With the ignition key in the ON position (single generator system only), voltage is applied through the warning indicator I circuit to the voltage regulator. This turns the regulator on, allowing current to flow from battery sense A circuit to the generator field coil.
Once the generator begins generating current, a voltage signal is taken from the generator stator and fed back to the regulator S circuit. This voltage feedback signal (typically half battery voltage) is used to turn off the warning indicator on the single generator system.
With the ignition key in the ON position (single generator system only), voltage is applied through the warning indicator I circuit to the voltage regulator. This turns the regulator on, allowing current to flow from battery sense A circuit to the generator field coil.
Once the generator begins generating current, a voltage signal is taken from the generator stator and fed back to the regulator S circuit. This voltage feedback signal (typically half battery voltage) is used to turn off the warning indicator on the single generator system.
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From: Yakistan, WA
From the service manual:
With the ignition key in the ON position (single generator system only), voltage is applied through the warning indicator I circuit to the voltage regulator. This turns the regulator on, allowing current to flow from battery sense A circuit to the generator field coil.
Once the generator begins generating current, a voltage signal is taken from the generator stator and fed back to the regulator S circuit. This voltage feedback signal (typically half battery voltage) is used to turn off the warning indicator on the single generator system.
With the ignition key in the ON position (single generator system only), voltage is applied through the warning indicator I circuit to the voltage regulator. This turns the regulator on, allowing current to flow from battery sense A circuit to the generator field coil.
Once the generator begins generating current, a voltage signal is taken from the generator stator and fed back to the regulator S circuit. This voltage feedback signal (typically half battery voltage) is used to turn off the warning indicator on the single generator system.
I did test those batteries again this morning before start, and the multi-meter is showing 12.5v. I am thinking that the batteries are not holding a good charge, I wonder if me driving around town the other day with the alternator not working may have begun to kill them.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,834
Likes: 3,122
From: Jersey Shore
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From: Yakistan, WA
They are from May 2014, it is warming up over here, so about 40 -45 degrees.
Before all these electrical issues with the FICM, and Alt, I would normally be showing 12.8v just sitting with the engine off.
I do want to apologize for some of the hysteria in my previous posts
. I am just tired of getting in the engine bay
. I just want to drive her, and be done at this point. I hope ya'll can understand that.
Thanks - Preston
Before all these electrical issues with the FICM, and Alt, I would normally be showing 12.8v just sitting with the engine off.
I do want to apologize for some of the hysteria in my previous posts
. I am just tired of getting in the engine bay. I just want to drive her, and be done at this point. I hope ya'll can understand that.Thanks - Preston
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
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From: BC Canada
12.4 to 12.5 at the battery posts is probably fine. I would think the occasional sitting on the charger over night wouldn't hurt but I don't think the batteries are bad. Lots of short trips will do that. When my batteries were newer 12.8 resting was more common, now after 3 winters 12.5. I would just keep an eye on it. Your new alt when charging after glow plugs should show 14.4 at the alternator post. Did you clean the battery grounds on both sides to frame?
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From: Yakistan, WA
12.4 to 12.5 at the battery posts is probably fine. I would think the occasional sitting on the charger over night wouldn't hurt but I don't think the batteries are bad. Lots of short trips will do that. When my batteries were newer 12.8 resting was more common, now after 3 winters 12.5. I would just keep an eye on it. Your new alt when charging after glow plugs should show 14.4 at the alternator post. Did you clean the battery grounds on both sides to frame?
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