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Re: Overcharging issue? [Re: RJS] #1717047
12/29/14 10:38 PM
12/29/14 10:38 PM
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Mesa, Arizona
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Quote:

Quote:

Thanks for the reply Robert.
This is the VR I saw on Ebay Motors - is this the type I should get :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Charger-Ch...0ce&vxp=mtr




Once your sure you have your charging straight I have a Reproduction cover with Red writing I would sell if you need.
Ron




I e-mailed Randy but it looks like I'll need one of your covers. Have any date coded for 1968?

Re: Overcharging issue? [Re: TJP] #1717048
12/29/14 11:45 PM
12/29/14 11:45 PM
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The Historic Hudson Valley
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Quote:

This may help

http://www.highimpactperformance.org/files/mopar001_1_.pdf
Keep us posted




Thanks TJP , very helpful

Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE [Re: MONC] #1717049
01/03/15 03:24 PM
01/03/15 03:24 PM
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Ok I checked the back of the voltage regulator on the car - definitely a standard unit not for electronic, based on what RR said and the article that TJP posted.

So I bought the electronic one in the link above and installed it this morning. I think it did the trick. Ammeter in car reading near dead center, and no erratic movements.

New readings :

Battery at rest : 12.71v
Battery at idle : 14.7v
Alt at idle : 14.9v
Voltage Reg at idle : 14.1v

@ 1600 or so RPM readings didn't change much across the board.

I took the car for a short ride and no ammeter jumps and read close to dead center.
Obviously I'll have to go for a longer ride, but bad weather heading in this afternoon, so that'll have to wait ( hopefully not till Spring! )

In the meantime, thanks for all the input, as always

Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE [Re: MONC] #1717050
01/03/15 04:47 PM
01/03/15 04:47 PM
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Omaha Ne
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Thanks for the feedback A lot do not post the final solution which leaves some of us wondering.

Your readings all look good except for 14.1 at the VR. I'm assuming that is on the ign or voltage sense side. It would be nice to see that number closer to the battery V at 14.7.
A .6 V drop between the two is a bit on the high side but when taking into account the multiple connections between the two points along with older harnesses etc it's not all that bad. The most likely source of the drop is the infamous bulkhead connections.


Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE [Re: TJP] #1717051
01/03/15 05:00 PM
01/03/15 05:00 PM
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Thanks for the help TJP .

Those numbers were not exact as they fluctuated slightly as the car was running, so I am not overly concerned at this point.

Once I can get it on the road for a longer drive and no issues and recheck of readings I'll feel better.

No chance of that now that it's snowing...

Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE 4/18 [Re: MONC] #1806342
04/18/15 04:17 PM
04/18/15 04:17 PM
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Ok so I took the car out for a bout a 20 minute ride last weekend and now the ammeter gauge needle is bouncing to the right.
It's not pegging and then coming back, it's not that bad, but it's very noticeable.
At idle it'll bounce slightly , no load so less bounce I guess.

So any suggestions? I have already checked if the new voltage regulator is grounded properly, and sanded the bolt threads etc. to ensure a good connection.
The car has a Petronix electronic ignition, if that helps.

Suggestions??

Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE 4/18 [Re: MONC] #1806353
04/18/15 04:39 PM
04/18/15 04:39 PM
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Install a volt gauge so you can see it while driving. If it maintains 14.5v while driving, the alternator is keeping up with demand. If it's below that, the alt is not keeping up.

If you're getting 14.9v at the battery, I bet you have some voltage drops equaling 0.4v between the battery and the blue wire at the voltage regulator.

You can measure the voltage between the battery + terminal and the blue wire at the alt. It should be 0.00v. Any higher indicates a voltage drop through the harness, which is bad.

I eventually installed a relay to bypass all the voltage drops through the bulkhead/ignition switch to finally get 14.5v at the battery.


If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE 4/18 [Re: MONC] #1806376
04/18/15 05:39 PM
04/18/15 05:39 PM
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The flickering is due to a flaky connection somewhere in the circuit or a load that is intermittent ( think turn signals as an example).

the ammeter is just responding to the current flowing through the system. the current is changing due to one of the following,
1. Ground issue between the body/ engine/ alternator/ regulator
2. Voltage sense line at the regulator is fluctuating due to
A. Ignition switch contacts /connections.
B. Bulk head connections.

3. Field circuit between the regulator and alternator has a flaky connection
4. loose /flakey connection between the battery and alternator which in turn causes the voltage to fluctuate in the circuit which causes the regulator/ alternator to respond.
5. Field / brush connections on the alternator are loose

You will have to try and isolate which circuit is fluctuating and causing the issue. refer to the previously posted article on how the system operates

NOTE
You will need a good analog voltmeter or oscilloscope as digital meters respond to slowly.

Last edited by TJP; 04/18/15 05:42 PM.
Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE 4/18 [Re: TJP] #1807205
04/19/15 08:34 PM
04/19/15 08:34 PM
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The Historic Hudson Valley
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Thanks for making go back and read that article TJP.
When the author stated that a bad ground will make you go chasing your tail, I had to laugh.
And then I checked the ground listed, and I completely forgot about the engine ground.
It was never there when I got the car back from the paint and engine install. And the bolt that attaches to the rear of the head was missing after I got the heads rebuilt .

So I went off to the auto parts store this morning to put a generic one on there for now and get some bolts that would work.
I checked continuity throughout the install and fired up the car when done.
The ammeter needle slowly went to near center and stayed there.
A little shake but it was idling and not completely warmed up.
So I took her for a 20 or 30 minute ride, and I'll be damned if the thing didn't stay near dead center without a shake or shimmy !
So it looks I am good to go and onto other things and hopefully drivin' her around more religiously this season .
Oh and even got invited to a car show by someone who saw me at the gas station and stopped and asked if I could bring it to show he was sponsoring. smile

Thanks again for everyone's help.


Mopar
Or
No
Car
Re: Overcharging issue? -UPDATE 4/18 [Re: MONC] #1807658
04/20/15 12:28 PM
04/20/15 12:28 PM
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Omaha Ne
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Your welcome and I hope it's fixed wink

I always taught students in my classes, When one understands how something works fixing it becomes easier.
beer

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