During lunch I took the alternator in question into the local parts haus for
testing, and it came up good. I watched them do it, and sure enough, when
they spun it up and pushed the test button, the motor turning the alt slowed
down as if loaded and the alt output gauge went up to about 30 amps. So I'm
reasonably sure it works.
What a pain! That means I have harness problems. Great.
The only things I can think of to try is:
1) make sure my charge circuit from the alt output is properly wired, approx
0 ohms from the charge terminal on the alt to the battery (+) terminal
2) see if my sense input from the battery is well connected at both ends , I
don't know if it needs to source any current, but......
3) Check my ground connection again
Any other ideas?
Chris Erikson
Sammamish, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Erikson <cerikson@precisionimages.com>
To: Datsun 510 list <bluebirds@bluebirds.ece.arizona.edu>
Cc: Roadster List <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 1999 10:12 AM
Subject: Blowing Internal Regulator Alternators
>Hi All,
> I seem to keep going through alternators ever since I ditched my stock
>setup with the external regulator. I'm running an L20b with SU's, and a
>Petronix ignition.
>
>Ever since I switched over to an internally regulated alternator (from a 78
>280z with A/C) I seem to keep blowing them or something. I've gone through
3
>now in the last 18 months. They just quit charging.
>
> I'm assuming that my ammeter should read current output from the alt if
the
>sense input is below about 13.4 to 13.8 V. Last night when I checked it, my
>ammeter in the car showed a battery drain, the one I hooked to the alt
>output showed 0 amps, and the sense input showed 12.4 and falling. I assume
>the output should be sourcing current as long as the sense input is below
>nominal voltage, and continue so until the sense input voltage rises to
>nominal?
>
>Maybe I'm not hooking them up right? I've got a wire straight from the
>battery +12V to the sense input, increased gauge wire throughout the direct
>charging path back to the battery to eliminate heat problems from a
powerful
>alternator, and a very good alternator ground.
>
>They just seem to die on me. They're not choked with oil leakage from the
>block, or have water dripping though them from a leak. They just quit
>working. I haven't torn one down, though. I do do a lot of driving with a
>heavy current load, all six headlights going, heat on, wipers, stereo, etc,
>but that's why I bought a beefy alternator. If a high output alternator
>can't handle the load why do I keep buying them? Heck my stock units worked
>this well, other than melting the diodes every six months so it worked out
>the same and they were cheaper!
>
>I do leave my lights on now and then and have to jump start maybe twice a
>year. Could some element of that process be damaging the alternator?
>
>Chris Erikson
>Sammamish WA
>71 510 wagon
>67 2000 Roadster
>
>
>
>
>
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