charging too much?
#1
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charging too much?
Now that the temp here has really fallen off. for whatever reason, when driving my volt meter is above normal. i would say its almost 3/4 the way over to the right. new batteries, less than 2 months old. any hard that can come from an alternator Over working?
#2
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Kind of common in the winter. May stop by a parts store to have the batteries load tested and the alternator checked for the heck of it. Battery voltage when running should be above 14 volts. I would say less that 14.8 though. Mine is usually 14.2 - 14.4.
#4
There is a batt temp sender under one of the batteries. I think the pass side, but I don't remember for sure. It takes the temps of the battery and will have the alternator "overcharge" the batts to help warm them up.
This is why you are seeing the voltage gauge read higher than normal when it's cold.
This is why you are seeing the voltage gauge read higher than normal when it's cold.
#7
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Now, to answer your question: Of course you can harm an alternator by overworking it, but you probably are not overworking it. Your alternator is rated 146 amps? (check your owner's manual) You probably are not making even half of that.
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#9
That too, but what I said applies as well.
I'm not posting just because I like to type. What I wrote is what it is guys.
I'm not posting just because I like to type. What I wrote is what it is guys.
#10
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Not necessarily. My batteries are several years old, and they do not require, or get, any "overcharge" to warm up even when the outside temp is zero F. Smokyram's batteries are only 2 months old and should perform better than mine. My dash gauge goes to about 14v and stays there after the grids are finished. His should too. The question is, What is the actual voltage he is getting?
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just as mentioned, I will have to put a meter on it this weekend. naturally its supposed to warm up, so i wont have the same climate to check in. basing off the guage, which im sure is off, looks to be 14.5-15 . again, im sure thats not accurate. when i asked, just happened to notice it was higher than i remeber seeing.
#15
DTR's 'Go to Guy'
This is the official word on the batt. temp sensor, but I'll tell ya......don't try to fast charge a frozen battery! If you watch the guage, even after the grid heaters turn off, the guage will slowly rise and the you can almost see it turning off and on. At least mine does anyhow.
OPERATION
The BTS is used to determine the battery temperature and control battery charging rate. This temperature data, along with data from monitored line voltage, is used by the PCM (ECM Diesel) to vary the battery charging rate. System voltage will be higher at colder temperatures and is gradually reduced at warmer temperatures.
The PCM sends 5 volts to the sensor and is grounded through the sensor return line. As temperature increases, resistance in the sensor decreases and the detection voltage at the PCM increases.
The BTS is also used for OBD II diagnostics. Certain faults and OBD II monitors are either enabled or disabled, depending upon BTS input (for example, disable purge and enable Leak Detection Pump (LDP) and O2 sensor heater tests). Most OBD II monitors are disabled below 20°F
OPERATION
The BTS is used to determine the battery temperature and control battery charging rate. This temperature data, along with data from monitored line voltage, is used by the PCM (ECM Diesel) to vary the battery charging rate. System voltage will be higher at colder temperatures and is gradually reduced at warmer temperatures.
The PCM sends 5 volts to the sensor and is grounded through the sensor return line. As temperature increases, resistance in the sensor decreases and the detection voltage at the PCM increases.
The BTS is also used for OBD II diagnostics. Certain faults and OBD II monitors are either enabled or disabled, depending upon BTS input (for example, disable purge and enable Leak Detection Pump (LDP) and O2 sensor heater tests). Most OBD II monitors are disabled below 20°F