Adam,
You need a bigger alt. The fan puts a big strain on it and I found many
years ago that I would go negative on my ammeter with the fan and lights on.
25 amps ain't nothin in today's world with electric everything and that
stereo sucks more power than the stock radio.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Bradley" <ambradley@yahoo.com>
To: "Patrick J. Horne" <horne@cs.utexas.edu>
Cc: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: Do I need a bigger alternator?
> I have the stock alternator in the stock location. The car seemed fine
> before these repairs but I didn't have the electric fan and rarely
> drive the car with the lights on. I'll check the connections and try
> again.
>
>
> --- "Patrick J. Horne" <horne@cs.utexas.edu> wrote:
> >
> > Adam,
> >
> > Sounds like your alternator is not putting out enough voltage. The
> > voltage should be around 13.6 volts. You could have a bad regulator
> > or alternator, or a bad connection with either of them.
> >
> > Check tobe sure that there is a ground strap between the engine and
> > frame/body. The alternator is grounded to the engine and the
> > regulator
> > is grounded to the inner fender. If they are not at the same
> > potential
> > it can cause problems.
> >
> > Are you running a stock alternator?
> >
> > Peace,
> > Pat
> >
> >
> > - Support Habitat for Humanity, A "hand up", not a "hand out" -
> >
> > Pat Horne, Network Manager, Shop Supervisor, Future planner
> > CS Dept, University of Texas, Austin, Tx. 78712 USA
> > voice (512)471-9730, fax (512)471-8885, horne@cs.utexas.edu
> >
> > On Fri, 29 Jun 2001, Adam Bradley wrote:
> >
> > > I've been putting some miles on my car since the water
> > pump/electric
> > > fan/head gasket/etc. replacement and have found that after long
> > drives
> > > with stereo, electric fan and headlights on the battery is nearly
> > dead.
> > > It is a new battery and this did not happen before the electric
> > fan.
> > >
> > > I'm not an electronics guy. I have a multi-meter and it says that
> > with
> > > everything BUT headlights on (fan is on) I have about 12.10 volts
> > at
> > > the battery. If I turn the headlights on it falls to 11.70 or so.
> > > Does this mean I'm draining my battery faster than I can charge it?
> > >
> > > Or, if I'm doing it wrong, can I use a multi-meter to test this,
> > and
> > > what do I do?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > Adam
> > > '70 1600 SPL311-28181
> > > http://www.picturetrail.com/abend
> > > Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
> > > http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
> Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
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