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CelestysWesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2020
Posts: 125
Location: FL
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 Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 5:31 pm Post subject: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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After setting up the Auxiliary battery bundle from GW, I am now wondering if the alternator is actually properly charging both the house and start battery as it is supposed to.
I've done a couple of initial tests, but not sure what's the best way to determine if everything is set up correctly.
At present, with the van's ignition OFF, meter reads:
12.5v - Car battery
12.9v - House battery
12.2v- Alternator
Ignition ON, van running, meter reads:
12v - Car battery
12.9 - House battery
10.5 - Alternator
Seems like a pretty significant drop in voltage at Car battery and Alternator. What should I be checking to ensure I'm wired correctly?
Also, to see if the aux battery is actually being recharged by the alternator, what's the best experiment and how long should it take of driving the van before it recharges?
My idea was to leave the camper light on for a few hours, check the house battery to see if its voltage dropped at all, then drive around a bit and see if it climbs back up. Would this be the most effective way of testing?
In case it's not already obvious, the van has been my first foray into auto mechanics, auto electrical, and bodywork/restoration. What a learning curve it has been, but an EXCITING ONE, no doubt.
Side note, am I missing a connection (such as a ground cable), from this tab on the lower part of the alternator ?
_________________
'86 Westy (Canadian model)
Now she lives in Miami, teaching her about Sunshine.
Trying to remedy the rust of her past. |
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pdm777
Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2012
Posts: 348
Location: Clovis, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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More Information Needed Dept.
- tell us about your House battery
- tell us about your Starter battery
_________________
1990 Westy Full Camper |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10215
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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| CelestysWesty wrote: |
...Ignition ON, van running, meter reads:
12v - Car battery
12.9 - House battery
10.5 - Alternator |
Did you blip the throttle (rev the engine) after starting?
Until you get the RPMs high enough (even briefly) the alternator isn't going to do much (has to get excited). |
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RolandD
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2017
Posts: 278
Location: Menomonee Falls, Wis
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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Strangely enough, proper belt tension is also mandatory. Been fooled by that one.
Roland |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8164
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| CelestysWesty wrote: |
...Ignition ON, van running, meter reads:
12v - Car battery
12.9 - House battery
10.5 - Alternator |
Did you blip the throttle (rev the engine) after starting?
Until you get the RPMs high enough (even briefly) the alternator isn't going to do much (has to get excited). |
Once the rpm hit above 1500 or so, the dash alt light should go out and once the combiner combines batteries you should see similar voltages above 13, ideally above 13.5 or 14 to confirm your batteries are being charged by the alt.
_________________
- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Butcher
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015
Posts: 1282
Location: Right Here
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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Simple answer, your alternator is not charging.
The power supply wire in the back of the alternator has seen better days. It's hard to determine, but the blue wire appears to be in the wrong place.
Typically, the house battery is the most important one so that will be charged first. Once that is charged, the aux batter is charged. If the house battery is never charged, the aux battery will just be waiting until that happens.
Of course, there are plenty of ways to hook up an aux battery so who's to say what the last person did. |
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CelestysWesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2020
Posts: 125
Location: FL
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: Is my Alternator properly charging Aux battery? |
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| pdm777 wrote: |
More Information Needed Dept.
- tell us about your House battery
- tell us about your Starter battery |
My starter battery is lead acid.
My house battery is 12v lithium.
pics attached.
Haven't had time to do the tests with running rpm's but looks like my house is draining ever so slightly.
Will update once I ride around a bit and see what happens.
_________________
'86 Westy (Canadian model)
Now she lives in Miami, teaching her about Sunshine.
Trying to remedy the rust of her past. |
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