Charge circuit guru's...

[Swede]

Okay this is weird.

So lately my "Battery/Alt" lamp has been going on and off as I drive but the alt is still putting out 14.5 volts whether the light is on or off and it's usually very stable as this happens too. Only maybe 3 times over the last 4 days have I noticed the voltage spike to 15 -16 volts but this only happens for a split second then flicks back to the regular 14.5 volts and stays there.

(I notice the spike because my inverter has an alarm for over/under voltage. Also, I have voltmeters in my dash for both batteries as you can see in my Build thread)

I checked the leads from my fuse box to the alt and they seem okay. The alt is a little over a year old and it's a DC Power 180 amp unit.

Anyone with any suggestions?

 

[Swede]

No one has any thoughts?

 

[EatonKyleH]

No one has any thoughts?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ant-determine-why-safe-drive.html#post1660679

Some common reasons explained in here. Good place to start anyway.

 

[Swede]

Yeah I read that thread when I did the search. Didn't help though.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Well I'm no tech so take this with a grain of salt but if you are seeing 16v (at any time ever) then your voltage regulator may be shot and frankly could damage electronics if it gets worse. On my 92 328 BMW the voltage regulator was built into the alternator. I'm not sure where it is on our 4Runner but I'm sure a search will pull up something. I'd start there.

[MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] thoughts?


Also note those view counts are not all human so don't fret the fact no one replied in mass.

 

[Swede]

Yeah that's kind of where I'm leaning but I have my doubts about it just because of the build quality of their alternators and it's barely a year old.

 

[Quadsbc]

As an electrician. It sounds like your volage regulator is on it's way out.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Well I'm no tech so take this with a grain of salt but if you are seeing 16v (at any time ever) then your voltage regulator may be shot and frankly could damage electronics if it gets worse. On my 92 328 BMW the voltage regulator was built into the alternator. I'm not sure where it is on our 4Runner but I'm sure a search will pull up something. I'd start there.

Ya after reading it through I too would be suspect of the voltage regulator which in this case as well is built into the alternator. I was just trying to start simple and pull up some of the other threads involving similar issues before posting some lengthy reply as I'd have done before lol.

 

[Swede]

Well I'm leaning to it being the Alternator. I checked all the connections and they are in great shape. It seems to start acting up after the engine warms up too, maybe after about 10 minutes of highway driving. I've driven over bumps to see if there is any change at all but it doesn't seem to be related to poor contact anywhere. I've e-mailed DC Power 3 times now but I'm still waiting for a response from them. :wacko:

 

[Swede]

Finally got a hold of them and they're sending me a new one. Sounds like it was the regulator. Thanks for the input!