Many follow http://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/my-lc-80-thread.365673/page-14 and my last post was to say I was moving the charge wire presently running from the alternator across the engine bay to the battery on the left. I had made mods a few years back and was basically tidying the engine bay and while at it shortening wires and grabbing back some voltage drop, this was showing up running the charge cable from alternator to the left battery and back across the engine bay to the right battery, it varied from around 0.3 - 0.5 volts.
Presently up in the mountains 'house sitting' so I never do anything too adventurous not wanting myself stuck with no transport around 15 miles from the nearest shop so only do the simplest of repairs/maintenance, so this is going to be 'easy peasy' right......wrong!
In simple terms I disconnected the alternator charge lead from the alternator and from the left battery, cut out around 1.5 metres and fitted a new terminal end to the remaining piece, connect direct to the right battery and job done....NOT.
I started the engine and looked at the NL battery monitor, normally it would show the left battery charging slightly ahead of the right as would be expected, now with my new short runs they should both be charging at the same rate. The left battery was not charging at all, the dashboard volt meter was way higher than normal, within a few seconds the dashboard lit up like a Xmas tree, everything from the red charge warning thru to the 'water in the diesel' indicator. Those who have had problems with the small plug in the alternator being loose will know what I am seeing.
Switched off straight away and checked all the connections and wiring all good, disconnected the charge cable from the right battery and jump leaded it to the left side, i.e. exactly how it was prior to me getting the tools out. Restarted and all was perfect, and everything worked as it has for the last few years since removing the 24 volt starter and moving over to a full 12 volt system.
If I connect the charge wire to the right battery and restart the fault comes back but, if I engage the splitter the fault disappears immediately. Voltage checks during normal running left battery 14.4/14.6, right battery 14.1/14.3. When connecting just the one battery i.e. when the dashboard shows a fault the voltage rises to 16.8.
So here goes the list, I have:
Checked and rechecked plug in the rear of the alternator.
Checked OE fusible links on right battery all good.
Disconnected the main parallel leads and fitted the charge wire back to right battery, fault came back.
Getting desperate I even swapped batteries, fault still there.
Checked and rechecked the Blue Seas split charger all wires and connections OK.
Connected solar panel to right battery Blue Seas splitter responded as per normal and connected batteries in parallel in the usual manner, start engine and relays disconnect the solar panel i.e. perfect.
Taking the Blue Seas out of the equation the fault still was there.
It was getting windy and the dogs wanted feeding, my patience wearing thin I done a quick temporary link, taped it up and called it a day, in effect I have done nothing!
As I am typing this, it occurred to me the only thing I have not tried is connecting the starter motor to the right battery along with the charge cable, on the left battery they are connected together so, is it possible the alternator (being of the machine sensed type) needs to 'see' the feedback via the starter cable/windings to regulate it's charge output?
I do declare myself as being quite leccy savvy but have to say this is the first time I have seen this fault (or should I say weird behaviour) on any vehicle........thoughts?
regards
Dave
Presently up in the mountains 'house sitting' so I never do anything too adventurous not wanting myself stuck with no transport around 15 miles from the nearest shop so only do the simplest of repairs/maintenance, so this is going to be 'easy peasy' right......wrong!
In simple terms I disconnected the alternator charge lead from the alternator and from the left battery, cut out around 1.5 metres and fitted a new terminal end to the remaining piece, connect direct to the right battery and job done....NOT.
I started the engine and looked at the NL battery monitor, normally it would show the left battery charging slightly ahead of the right as would be expected, now with my new short runs they should both be charging at the same rate. The left battery was not charging at all, the dashboard volt meter was way higher than normal, within a few seconds the dashboard lit up like a Xmas tree, everything from the red charge warning thru to the 'water in the diesel' indicator. Those who have had problems with the small plug in the alternator being loose will know what I am seeing.
Switched off straight away and checked all the connections and wiring all good, disconnected the charge cable from the right battery and jump leaded it to the left side, i.e. exactly how it was prior to me getting the tools out. Restarted and all was perfect, and everything worked as it has for the last few years since removing the 24 volt starter and moving over to a full 12 volt system.
If I connect the charge wire to the right battery and restart the fault comes back but, if I engage the splitter the fault disappears immediately. Voltage checks during normal running left battery 14.4/14.6, right battery 14.1/14.3. When connecting just the one battery i.e. when the dashboard shows a fault the voltage rises to 16.8.
So here goes the list, I have:
Checked and rechecked plug in the rear of the alternator.
Checked OE fusible links on right battery all good.
Disconnected the main parallel leads and fitted the charge wire back to right battery, fault came back.
Getting desperate I even swapped batteries, fault still there.
Checked and rechecked the Blue Seas split charger all wires and connections OK.
Connected solar panel to right battery Blue Seas splitter responded as per normal and connected batteries in parallel in the usual manner, start engine and relays disconnect the solar panel i.e. perfect.
Taking the Blue Seas out of the equation the fault still was there.
It was getting windy and the dogs wanted feeding, my patience wearing thin I done a quick temporary link, taped it up and called it a day, in effect I have done nothing!
As I am typing this, it occurred to me the only thing I have not tried is connecting the starter motor to the right battery along with the charge cable, on the left battery they are connected together so, is it possible the alternator (being of the machine sensed type) needs to 'see' the feedback via the starter cable/windings to regulate it's charge output?
I do declare myself as being quite leccy savvy but have to say this is the first time I have seen this fault (or should I say weird behaviour) on any vehicle........thoughts?
regards
Dave