Charging too Much!!!!
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New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4
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From: Sacramento USA
Charging too Much!!!!
New Battery, New regulator, Alternator is putting out.
Starts great. Amp gauge reads 20 at idle. As you increase rpms the amps read 40 and stays there until it blows the 40 amp breaker.(replaced Fusible link I guess) Gauges are a joke and none of them work. They do jump when I turn the ignition on. Won't start until I reset the breaker. Idles all day and never blows the breaker or drops below 20. I know don't want to unhook the battery while it's running to see if it is drawing too much. Any basic tests I can do myself? I have a voltmeter. The Alternator was putting out close to 16 volts when they tested it at AUTOZONE.
It also starts missing and backfiring when the breaker trips over 2500 rpm. Ease off on the throttle and it runs okay.
Starts great. Amp gauge reads 20 at idle. As you increase rpms the amps read 40 and stays there until it blows the 40 amp breaker.(replaced Fusible link I guess) Gauges are a joke and none of them work. They do jump when I turn the ignition on. Won't start until I reset the breaker. Idles all day and never blows the breaker or drops below 20. I know don't want to unhook the battery while it's running to see if it is drawing too much. Any basic tests I can do myself? I have a voltmeter. The Alternator was putting out close to 16 volts when they tested it at AUTOZONE.
It also starts missing and backfiring when the breaker trips over 2500 rpm. Ease off on the throttle and it runs okay.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 3
From: Comox Valley, Canada
Charging too Much!!!!
Check the voltage output with the voltmeter at idle should read 12.5-13.5 volts.
16 volts at anytime is too high. Sounds like a bad voltage regulator or possibly mixed up wiring.
What yeay of truck??
Sparky
16 volts at anytime is too high. Sounds like a bad voltage regulator or possibly mixed up wiring.
What yeay of truck??
Sparky
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 3
From: Comox Valley, Canada
Charging too Much!!!!
Sounds like the voltage regulator isnt cutting back the voltage output of the alternator as the turning speed of the alternator increases. No need to get into the internal workings of either 
but I am sure someone will 
As stated make sure the regulator is grounded, it gets its ground thru the case and mounting bolts to the rad support and then to the battery negative.
Remove the wiring connector on the regulator and check it for corrosion. You can even check the wire from the regulator to the alternator field terminal for continuity. It runs fron the "F" terminal on the regulator plug to the "F" terminal on the alternator, it may even be orange in color.
Hope this helps.
Sparky
but I am sure someone will As stated make sure the regulator is grounded, it gets its ground thru the case and mounting bolts to the rad support and then to the battery negative.
Remove the wiring connector on the regulator and check it for corrosion. You can even check the wire from the regulator to the alternator field terminal for continuity. It runs fron the "F" terminal on the regulator plug to the "F" terminal on the alternator, it may even be orange in color.
Hope this helps.
Sparky
New User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 14
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From: Northeast
Charging too Much!!!!
Just a wild guess with the new battery. Did you charge it prior to installing it in your truck. If it was not charged via a battery charger your alternator is trying to charge it. Although the truck may start with it not fully charged, the charging system is really trying to put out. You could take a battery from another vehicle and put it in and check your amperage with a known good battery installed.
I also agree with the above post...16 volts is high for a charging system. If you had an amp clamp accessory for your voltmeter you could do some more troubleshooting, but I'd look at the battery state first. Remember, 12 volts at the battery does not necessarily mean the battery is fully charged. It is a combination of voltage and amperage.
Hope this helps....
I also agree with the above post...16 volts is high for a charging system. If you had an amp clamp accessory for your voltmeter you could do some more troubleshooting, but I'd look at the battery state first. Remember, 12 volts at the battery does not necessarily mean the battery is fully charged. It is a combination of voltage and amperage.
Hope this helps....
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
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From: Virginia
Charging too Much!!!!
Double check the "A" connection at the regulator. Follow this wire from the reg to the connection it makes somewhere near the large battery connection at the starter solenoid. This is the wire that tells the regulator the voltage level of the electrical system of the truck. If this connection is loose or corroded, it can give a lower voltage reading to the regulator, and it will tell the alternator to put out too much current to try to compensate.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Sacramento USA
Charging too Much!!!!
Thanks for all the good advice. Turns out the culprit was the Breaker. It would break and then reset. Problem was that there was a huge voltage drop through it. So the regulator thought the system was low and told the Alt to CHARGE CHARGE CHARGE!
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