Quick Battery voltage question
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by ponch37300
Guess I'll just upgrade all the wiring to thicker wires then. Was thinking about doing that anyway but just have so many things to do to the truck and so many parts laying around that need to go on. Do you think 4 gauge wire is good enough. I am good friends with a local stereo shop owner so i can get wire for cheap. Thanks
Your stereo shop owner will have access to that sort of thing as well.
One thing, make note of your volt guage behavior before and after you do the job, especially with all the accessories on and the glow plugs still on. I think you'll like the results.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
....and then protect with this specialized heat shrink that has a glue coating on the inside of the tube so that when you heat it up to shrink it, it will completely seal up the connection from the elements.
It will help keep moisture and battery acid away from the solder joints.
Pop
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
My local stereo shop has an interstate guy some once a week. They don't carry the "self potting" heat shrink so if you do get the part numbers please post them so i can just have them get it from the interstate guy. The parts just keep adding up, the second bedroom in our apartment is just full of truck parts waiting to be installed if i ever get the time! I try to do a little install whenever i have some free time but the fiance says i spend more time with the truck then her.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Guys, turned out I just needed to rough up the terminals. Even though they didn't look like they needed cleaning, after I took the wire brush to them the truck has been starting fine. Nice to keep that money in my pocket. Thanks for the help!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois on 40 Acres
Okay Guys,
Lets see if I understand what you are suggesting to do to get maximum output from the alternator.
Add wiring from the battery (+ and -) on the driver's side to the voltage regulator's "sence" terminal and alternator frame using No. 2 or 4 wire.
I have a 1999 SD, PS with one alternator and my voltage to either the ScanGauge or a voltmeter usually shows 14.2 or 14.3 Volts. Most other trucks or cars I have owned usually show 14.6 to 14.8 volts as a standard output even under most power loads. BUT under heavy power loads (Max fan, Max AC, Power to 5th wheel trailer, etc., etc.) voltage can drop as low as 13.5 to 13.7 and for a short time I have seen it go to 13.2 on my SD
I do not know the output amps of the alternator and it is to D---- cold out (-5 plus wind at 20 MPH) to go check it.
The truck has 196K miles on it and I just replaced both batteries, (4 years old with about 90K miles). They where not dead but the battery undertaker was standing by my truck everyday smiling.
If I have understood the update to the wiring do you think this will improve the voltage output under those heavy electrical loads I see in the summer while pulling my RV?
Thanks,
Ron
Lets see if I understand what you are suggesting to do to get maximum output from the alternator.
Add wiring from the battery (+ and -) on the driver's side to the voltage regulator's "sence" terminal and alternator frame using No. 2 or 4 wire.
I have a 1999 SD, PS with one alternator and my voltage to either the ScanGauge or a voltmeter usually shows 14.2 or 14.3 Volts. Most other trucks or cars I have owned usually show 14.6 to 14.8 volts as a standard output even under most power loads. BUT under heavy power loads (Max fan, Max AC, Power to 5th wheel trailer, etc., etc.) voltage can drop as low as 13.5 to 13.7 and for a short time I have seen it go to 13.2 on my SD
I do not know the output amps of the alternator and it is to D---- cold out (-5 plus wind at 20 MPH) to go check it.
The truck has 196K miles on it and I just replaced both batteries, (4 years old with about 90K miles). They where not dead but the battery undertaker was standing by my truck everyday smiling.
If I have understood the update to the wiring do you think this will improve the voltage output under those heavy electrical loads I see in the summer while pulling my RV?
Thanks,
Ron
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Originally Posted by charon61285
If I have understood the update to the wiring do you think this will improve the voltage output under those heavy electrical loads I see in the summer while pulling my RV?
Thanks,
Ron
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: NW Illinois on 40 Acres
Thanks, I will do an upgrade as soon as it warms up a little. 0 outside with 25 to 30 MPH wind. It is a heat wave inside the garage at a +10 with no heater to warm it up.
FYI New way to get rid of raccoons. Have them bit into the power cord to your outside hottub. Kills them real fast. But ice does form very fast in the hottub at temps from -10 to +10 with winds out of the north. Worked outside last night for 3 hours to heat the tub up and get the frozen bandit out of there.
By the way GO BEARS!
FYI New way to get rid of raccoons. Have them bit into the power cord to your outside hottub. Kills them real fast. But ice does form very fast in the hottub at temps from -10 to +10 with winds out of the north. Worked outside last night for 3 hours to heat the tub up and get the frozen bandit out of there.
By the way GO BEARS!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Ok I finally heard back from the guy and there is a website that you can buy all this stuff from.
http://www.allbatterysalesandservice.com/
Unfortunatly they don't have much for pictures of the product but there is a phone number you can call listed on the website.
http://www.allbatterysalesandservice.com/
Unfortunatly they don't have much for pictures of the product but there is a phone number you can call listed on the website.
