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anyone have battery issues when plowing?

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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 04:41 PM
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anyone have battery issues when plowing?

Hey guys I need a stronger altinator. I have a 1990 f-350 4x4 and I use it to plow with. I need a altinator that charges more. everytime i plow and am done whenever i shut my truck off and want to restart it i dont have enough batterys left to start it. My question is what kind of altinator should i get? Also anyone ever try 2 altinators? Who else around here uses the meyers plows? you guys have any troubles like this? I know the altinator is good because i had it tested. it is charging. Also the one battery is a 1000 crankign amp the other is 850 cranking amp. they both are good batteries.

thanks,
jimmy
 
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 07:43 PM
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What amp rating is your stock alternator? If it's the 135A unit, have you had it tested to see if it's charging properly while it's installed? You might have poor connections somewhere in the charging circuit that's preventing a full charge.
 
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 08:46 PM
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you've got something wrong. i have 4 plow trucks 2 are gas powered trucks with only one battery and i've never had any problems and i plow commercial accounts hours at a time. check all your battery connections, your cables may be shot.
 
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 09:34 PM
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I have a couple lots I have to plow very slow, almost at an idle.
They are very small, so the hoist is running a lot.
If I plow all three of them in a row, and then happen to stall the engine, with all the lights I am running the engine may or may not start.

If I do one of my larger lots between the small ones, no issues.

I am running 2 1000 CCA batteries and a 150 amp alternator.

You may want to inspect the battery terminal wire where it attaches to the alternator.
I burnt mine off last year while plowing.

There are alternators listed for the IDI diesel that go down to something like 65 amps for a rating.
They are usually very cheap.
A previous owner may have replaced the alternator with one of those small amp alternators.
 

Last edited by Dave Sponaugle; Jan 25, 2008 at 09:37 PM.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 10:08 PM
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I agree, something is wrong. I have a Meyers 7.5 foot. I used it 3 years on my f150 with the stock 60 amp alternator. All I had to do was set the idle up a little bit, and it always started. Now I have it mounted on the 89 diesel with two batteries, it really flies when I tell it to go up. Never have starting problems with this truck either.

You may want to check the voltage at the batteries with the truck idling. An alternator in proper operation should have 14.5 volts on the battery. One with a diode burnt out may have only 13 volts, which would barely get the job done normally, but give you trouble with the plow.
 

Last edited by Franklin2; Jan 25, 2008 at 10:11 PM.
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