Anybody ever hads problems with your alternator? When my truck is cold it takes about 15-30 seconds before the alternator starts charging. I can watch the voltage drop and then it will cut in and go up to 14v within a few seconds. My SM said this is normal and to leave it until the alternator quits totally. Not my idea of a solution.


Thankshttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

It's normal. Air heater and glow plugs etc drawing current for start-up.

There's been a previous thread on this issue and IIRC, the consensus was they all do it. I know mine does.

Jderk,


They all do it.


Basically the alternator cant keep up with the electrical draw at start up, with the glow plugs and air heater on.


If you put a big alternator or a second alternator on, it keeps up faster and you hardly notice it.


Diesel Dragon http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

Don't worry. THis is exactly what should be happening. I have the 145 amp alternator and it does the same thing. All the heaters at startup are drawing a lot of amperage.

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.

Mine might be one of the few that doesn't - I have a 200 amp Powermaster as secondary!

I put the 200 amp Powermaster as secondary too http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


No stopping at 11 volts for me either straight up to 14v http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Diesel Dragon

jderk,
Sorry , I don't mean to highjack your thread, but since we're on an alternator subject I thought I'd ask.
Horse Trainer - Diesel Dragon,
Can I replace the original alternator with a single 200 amp Powermaster on the original primary, position?
thanks... sorry again, jderk

Worrywart,


I believe you can replace the original with a 200amp Powermaster, but there is a small coolant or fuel line behind the alternator that needs to be repositioned to make room for the larger Powermaster and it deffinetly looks like a tight fit. Also dont forget to run a much larger power wire with a 200 amp fuse to the junction block from the new alternator. IIRC I payed $355 delivered for the alternator and connector, which is usually a extra.


IIRC Hoot put dual powermasters on his truck and needed to move a line out of the way. You can do a search on "dual alternators" and his comments and pictures should come up somewhere along with a lot of other people who have done the dual setup and whats needed to add one.


Doing the dual setup is not that hard just a new bracket, idler pully, and belt are needed so you my want to try it, that way you always have an extra one running in case one dies. Unless you have a filter or something else put in the 2nd alternator position.


Diesel Dragon http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

It may be more than just the high current loads on a cold start. I've read somewhere, that the ECM has a time delay, before it allows the alternator to charge.

It may be more than just the high current loads on a cold start. I've read somewhere, that the ECM has a time delay, before it allows the alternator to charge.


That's interesting -- why would it do that -- in lieu of a regulating the voltage down to 12 volts (since alternators usually put out 14.x volts)?