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hot alternater question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by theracedude, Apr 28, 2007.

  1. theracedude
    Joined: Dec 6, 2004
    Posts: 404

    theracedude
    Member

    me and the wife were working on the hot rod today and she asked why the alternater was so hot? we havent run the car in 24 hours. i felt it and it had to be 120 or so. i put a test light on the power wire and got 12 volts as with one of the 2 pin conectors. the key was off and out of the car. any one know what could make it do that?
     
  2. junior 1957
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 217

    junior 1957
    Member

    an easy way to check for a battery drain is to remove one of your battery cables, and connect your test light to the loose cable and to the battery, if the light glows, you have current flow. now disconnect the alternator battery wire. if the light goes out you have located your current drain. prolly a shorted diode in your alternator. a diode is a oneway valve for electricity. a shorted one lets current flow both ways, and can cause your problem, an open diode flows no current. hope this helps
     
  3. Big Pete
    Joined: Aug 7, 2005
    Posts: 364

    Big Pete
    Member

    The alternator should not be an electrical load. One wire has some continuity, If it's the big wire going to the battery that's bad, if the little one to the dash maybe it's the application, some need a component in circuit. See which first.
     
  4. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    I have the same problem but only about 7 volts comming out of the altenator ( this was after a 6v to 12v conversion). If the altenator is still working could you install a diode to stop the flow? and if so where?
     
  5. junior 1957
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 217

    junior 1957
    Member

    if alternator is a 12v and is only putting out 7v it is not functioning correctly. with engine running check output at the battey, then check it at the battery terminal on the alt. if they both read the same ur alt is the problem. it should put out 13.8 to14.8 volts. check that the small wire in the plug is hot when the key is in the run position.
     
  6. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    I'm sorry, I meant the alternator is putting out 7v, or should I say 7v is cooming out of the altenator towards the coil when the ignition is off and the key is out of the car. When I unplug the altenator wires (3 wires) whe current stops.
     
  7. junior 1957
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 217

    junior 1957
    Member

    it sounds like you might have something wired wrong. a 7v current flow from the alt would only be possible with a voltage dropping resistor. what kind of alt do you have? is some of your car still 6v?
     
  8. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    can't remember exactly what model but its a delco remy 94a 1 wire. The sales tag has a number of eb6 7294se. The only things left 6v is the starter, gauges (with voltage reducers for each gauge) and my overdrive unit.
     
  9. junior 1957
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 217

    junior 1957
    Member

    ok, disconnect the battery wire from the alt, connect an amp meter, or a 12v test light to the battery wire and the batt terminal on the alt, if the light glows you have a an internal problem with your alt.
     
  10. rodknocker
    Joined: Jan 31, 2006
    Posts: 2,265

    rodknocker

    possibly a bad diode
     
  11. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    have to wait till moday, forgot some of my tools at work
     
  12. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    OK, found a test light.disconnected the battery wire on the altenator and hooked the test light from alt bat post to alt bat wire and no light. hooked everything back up and then disconnected neg cable from battery and tested with test light between cable and battery, got light. disconnected the two wire plug from altenator and light went out. the two wire plug has the sensor wire and one other wire I'm not sure about. Any idea?
     
  13. junior 1957
    Joined: Dec 10, 2006
    Posts: 217

    junior 1957
    Member

    one wire should be hot, [light your testlight], with ignition key in the on position, the other wire will be batt voltage. if both wires are hot w/key off, you have located your problem, that wire turns on the voltage regulator in the alt. hope this helps

    just make sure small wire in plug is hot w/key on, dead w/key off
     
  14. locklahn
    Joined: Apr 3, 2001
    Posts: 67

    locklahn
    Member

    yup its hot with key off. now I have to do some tracing and find out why. Thanks for your help.
     

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