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Old Oct 30, 2003 | 09:51 PM
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charging meter drops when lights on...

i just installed 2 kc daylighters (100 watt) and 2 el cheapo blazer lights (55 watts) on one circuit using the kc daylighter relay. i upgraded the fuse to a 30 amp. the distance from the relay to the lights is approx 22 feet and i am using 12 guage wire. when i turn the lights one, my battery charging meter drops dramatically, but not below the "normal" mark. the intensity of the lights (along with my regular lights) does not change. is this normal? does my factory alternator have enough output for these lights?
 
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Old Oct 31, 2003 | 10:45 AM
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What year and configuration is your Truck? it seems to be older than 1987 isn't it?

Moreover it seems to me oyu connect the power cable for lamps directly to Battery or Starter relay, isn`t it?
 

Last edited by javi2001; Oct 31, 2003 at 10:53 AM.
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Old Oct 31, 2003 | 12:06 PM
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1994 with a 460. i ran the kc power relay to the cable coming from the positive battery terminal
 
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Old Oct 31, 2003 | 09:46 PM
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The charge dropping is normal. The electrical system is directing more current to the lights, and less to the battery. It should also drop a little if you run the defrost on high, with the wipers and the headlamps on.
 
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Old Oct 31, 2003 | 10:37 PM
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My 90' does the same thing whenever I put a load on the system. Headlights, vent blower, fog lights. The guage just drops a tad bit. Just enough to notice if I watch the guage. It's normal.
 
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 04:18 PM
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Upsss. sorry, I was a bit confuse. I was thinking on charge meter as AMMETER, but trucks newer than 1987 use Voltmeter. In this case yes it is normal a bit of pinter movement, especially on idle.

Regards;
 
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