Strange voltage surges
02-05-2006, 10:46 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Contributor
Strange voltage surges
Electrical stuff is still a great mystery to me, I'm ashamed to admit, so I'm hoping one of you can fill me in about something. Recently, when I'm going down the road at night at a constant speed, the headlights and dashlights will suddenly get very bright for a few seconds, and the voltmeter jumps way up. It will do this a couple of times a minute for a while, and then stop for five or ten minutes, then start doing it again. Can anyone tell me what's going on?
JB
JB
02-05-2006, 10:53 PM
#4
Race Director
you have a voltage sensing circuit that adjusts the alternator output based on the load the sensing circuit percieves....so something is up, either in your wiring or in your alternator
02-05-2006, 11:06 PM
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Le Mans Master
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It's the voltage regulator - I'd replace it ASAP-otherwise you be burning up bulbs-radio etc.
Richard
Richard
02-05-2006, 11:56 PM
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Le Mans Master
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Yep, its the VR. It sences battery voltage and used that to bias down the alternator when the batt voltage goes up (charged), when batt voltage goes down it runs the volys up on the regulator. If for some reason it loses the battery voltage totally, the alternator voltage goes way up, folowing RPMs.
I got a ride home in the dark once because of this
I got a ride home in the dark once because of this
02-06-2006, 12:06 AM
#7
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Contributor
OK, cool enough. Thanks, guys. 'Nother question: I've got the internal voltage reg--is it really necessary to replace the whole alternator or is it possible to replace the regulator?
JB
JB
02-06-2006, 06:27 AM
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Burning Brakes
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Originally Posted by Richard454
It's the voltage regulator - I'd replace it ASAP-otherwise you be burning up bulbs-radio etc.
Richard
Richard
Absolutely...do it soon, and don't start it until it's been replaced
02-06-2006, 10:20 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
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Sure you can do that, I got mine at a shop in boynton beach that does auto electric only, the guy had all the parts and pieces I needed, took me about 2 hrs start to finish.
