Alternator Blues recorded by Andy - Hammond, LA

Still having alternator charging issues. Hmmmmm.
Brand spanking new alternator in it this morning.
Build/Testing date of 2/3/02 on the shiny casing. Wired it up and no charge showing on the ammeter.
Checked and rechecked the wiring. One by one for continuity and quality of soldering and connection. Everything A-ok. Checked the diode going back to P1 with the VOM and it works. Voltage in one direction and not the other - Works ok.

My VOM reads that same 12,14,13,16,18,19,15,14,12,13,16 etc. same as the LAST -2- alternators. I cannot understand this. Guess I need to revive my analog meter since the field may be rendering this digital meter useless. Is this a possibility.

Ammeter show draw from ignition system but no positive movement from alternator. Any idea as to what could be causing me all of these problems.

The 8N is wired exactly according to 12V conversion specs and starts and runs fine. (as long as the battery has enough juice left)

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Andy

When did this trouble start? Has the twelve volt system ever worked right? Can you date the onset of these symptoms to any particular event?

If Dell's suggestions don't get you going maybe the above information will help somebody recognize the trouble.

Your mileage may vary

While you didn't specify, I'm assuming you have the remote voltage sense P2 connected to the big BAT terminal on alternator, don't you?

If'n P2 connected to BAT, disconnect just the BAT wire going to the rest of the tractor wiring. With the tractor runnin, measure the BAT, should be a steady 14.9.

If'n steady alternator volts. Just measure the disconnected BAT wire, should be steady 12.6 battery volts. If'n no volts, ya ain't connected to the battery. And you won't read any charge onnna ammeter, neather. Which implies ya gotts sumptin wrong with yer wiring..... ..Dell

Voltage measurements, without current flow are misleading. Try using the Wire that "was" connected to the Alt Bat conn and Jumper it to your Lights. (lamp side of Switch) Do this with Tractor OFF

What does your battery measure when Alt is Running

Be very careful with ALT's, they can Kill you if "an" int Diode shorts.

Hope this Helps,