Alternator Upgrade

[LockedBronco]

Thanks for coming back and admitting it, My respect for you just grew quite a bit.

Now that that is straightened out why is the voltage 15-15.3 constantly ?

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[Jdc]

Now that that is straightened out why is the voltage 15-15.3 constantly ?

I'm not electrical engineer but I did stay at a holiday inn....

 

[bcool2525]

Anyone aware of any alternator upgrades the ranger guys might have been using? My googling didn't find much sadly

 

[JerryC]

 

[LockedBronco]

I'm not electrical engineer but I did stay at a holiday inn....

Cool
How was the Continental breakfast?

 

[zuke]

So I screwed up the reading on the Amps... I had the meter set to AC and the probe hooked up wrong...

Battery, Key Off all accessories off (I only left it off 10 minutes, so it wouldn't have been "Sleeping")
.7A
Battery, Key On All accessories off
7.4A
Battery, Key On Door open, dome lights on
7.6A
Battery, Key On Radio on (Amps off)
7,8A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On
8.5A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On, Headlights on
13.3A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On, Headlights on, Heater on Full.
32.8A

That represents what would normally be on during my normal commute...

Started the Bronco at that point and the amperage jumped to 80+, I would expect this since it's now charging the battery, and the number is going down quick..

Voltmeter currently reading 14.6v

This also doesn't fully represent the Amps, as they are hooked directly to the battery, and I can't measure those at the same time as the one that goes to High Current Battery Junction
More to come

 

[LockedBronco]

So I screwed up the reading on the Amps... I had the meter set to AC and the probe hooked up wrong...

Battery, Key Off all accessories off (I only left it off 10 minutes, so it wouldn't have been "Sleeping")
.7A
Battery, Key On All accessories off
7.4A
Battery, Key On Door open, dome lights on
7.6A
Battery, Key On Radio on (Amps off)
7,8A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On
8.5A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On, Headlights on
13.3A
Battery, Key On Radio on, Amps On, Headlights on, Heater on Full.
32.8A

That represents what would normally be on during my normal commute...

Started the Bronco at that point and the amperage jumped to 80+, I would expect this since it's now charging the battery, and the number is going down quick..

Voltmeter currently reading 14.6v

This also doesn't fully represent the Amps, as they are hooked directly to the battery, and I can't measure those at the same time as the one that goes to High Current Battery Junction
More to come

14.6v DVOM or dash reading?

 

[LockedBronco]

What is battery voltage at battery with key off?

 

[zuke]

Battery settled down to about 12A after charging a bit, Now for some B+ Generator and Point measurements;

B+ Everything still on
53A

B+ Everything still on, Steering run lock to lock and held on locks;
56A was the highest I saw (And it wasn't at lock)

Left it Idle for a bit to ensure fully charged battery, Steady amperage at B+ 50.6A

B+, Running, Radio on, Amps On, Headlights on, Heater off
31.7A

B+, Running, Radio on, Amps On, Headlights off, Heater off
21.8A

B+, Running, Radio on, Amps Off, Headlights off, Heater off
18.3A

B+, Running, Radio off, Amps Off, Headlights off, Heater off
18.3A

Back on the battery lead at that point, Running, everything off,
5.3A

Amp Line separate measurement;

Radio Off, amps powered
3A

Radio On Volume 24, Bill Withers "Green Grass" Amps powered
6.5A

Steering Rack line separately, highest draw I saw lock to lock was 7A

 

[zuke]

Dash meter stayed at 14.6 through most of the test, now sitting here idling with everything off, it's 14.2

 

[zuke]

Reading at battery is 14.18~14.2, The Dash meter has been pretty consistent with what a meter on the battery reads..

Turned the Bronco off, and have 12.7 and bleed off at the battery slowly.. It's normally about 12.3 cold...

 

[RHeinz]

I certainly do not want to add to the confusion within this thread. I slept at home last night.

You cannot measure DC Amps with a ”current loop” like the one that was shown at the beginning of this thread.

Perhaps you can read alternator output current with one, though I have never tried it.

If I’m wrong, someone will tell me, and I will proceed in life being able to measure DC current with my AmpProbe.

 

[zuke]

Not sure what conclusions I can draw from all this...

Learned;

The steering isn't drawing much, and that was sitting still on a concrete floor, Driving down the road should be less.

The amps aren't drawing much either.

The heater and headlights are the big loads.

The cooling fans came on during this testing, and the draw was negligible.

I'm in a heated shop, I have seen others say the cold is hard on AGM batteries, making them draw more to charge, so that's a possibility. But I have a 32 mile commute, I would expect it to be charged in that time.

This was all done at Idle, not sure how I could emulate the conditions of driving and the varying RPMs, and still take measurements.

So, Still inconclusive..

 

[LockedBronco]

Reading at battery is 14.18~14.2, The Dash meter has been pretty consistent with what a meter on the battery reads..

Turned the Bronco off, and have 12.7 and bleed off at the battery slowly.. It's normally about 12.3 cold...

12.3 is low
Check battery voltage after it sits overnight without turning key on with volt meter.

 

[RHeinz]

By chance, is your stereo AMP ground connected to the negative battery terminal or the Bronco ground buss which is downstream of the battery current measuring “shunt”?

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