Electrical help PLEASE.

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classic kev

classic kev

Well-Known Member
Posts
3,510
Location
on the side of a hill near Nannerch, N.Wales
Hope somebody can get me out of a spot of bother:eek:

My '91 RRC is having a bit of an electrical glitch. I'm getting close to 19v at the battery with no electrical load (engine running). I suspected voltage regulator so have just finished putting a new one on but no change. I can limit voltage to about 17v with lights, heated rear screen and air con on but the problem is I am 200 miles from home and would prefer to get the problem resolved.

The alternator is a Lucas A133/80. Brushes are good, voltage regulator is brand new. Any ideas or in the alternative what are the chances of being able to get it home without cooking the electrical system or the battery?
 
sounds like there's a short internally - time for a new alt me thinks - you sure you replaced the diode pack correctly ?

that voltage will boil your battery very quickly, if your lucky you won't be near it when it explodes

disconnecting the alt and not using anything electrical on the way home is an option, running an alt open isnt usually a good idea but as it's dying .........
 
Sean said:
sounds like there's a short internally - time for a new alt me thinks - you sure you replaced the diode pack correctly ?

that voltage will boil your battery very quickly, if your lucky you won't be near it when it explodes

disconnecting the alt and not using anything electrical on the way home is an option, running an alt open isnt usually a good idea but as it's dying .........
Click to expand...

Diode pack hasn't been changed. The exploding battery is exactly what I was afraid of. Running with the alternator disconnected might be an option but not sure it'll run for 200 miles. Thanks anyway.

Anybody else got any ideas?
 
can you stick anything electrical directly to the battery, large lamp, or just a bulb, whatever it takes to drain the power off just to get you home?

get blowers on, lights, interior lights.

only reason i say something to drain power at the battery is so that it doesnt cook the battery be careful tho cos if you stop and your draining power off it'll kill the battery pretty quick!!!
 
by the way, where abouts are you? if yer passing by anyone maybe they can lend a hand if you get stuck???

when are you planning on returning home? maybe we can get a list of scrap yards/auto elecs for you on yer way!!!
 
classic kev said:
Diode pack hasn't been changed. The exploding battery is exactly what I was afraid of. Running with the alternator disconnected might be an option but not sure it'll run for 200 miles. Thanks anyway.

Anybody else got any ideas?
Click to expand...

You could connect alt for a short distance then disconnect till electrics start to fail and then reconnect for a short distance. A pain I know but it should get you home.
 
gavbriggs said:
can you stick anything electrical directly to the battery, large lamp, or just a bulb, whatever it takes to drain the power off just to get you home?

get blowers on, lights, interior lights.

only reason i say something to drain power at the battery is so that it doesnt cook the battery be careful tho cos if you stop and your draining power off it'll kill the battery pretty quick!!!
Click to expand...

no offense Gav but i think that's encouraging him to do something foooooooking dangerous

leaving a alt connected to a battery in that condition is just asking for trouble
 
gavbriggs said:
by the way, where abouts are you? if yer passing by anyone maybe they can lend a hand if you get stuck???

when are you planning on returning home? maybe we can get a list of scrap yards/auto elecs for you on yer way!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks guys but it kinda looks like it'll be an exciting jouney home. BTW I'm in N.Wales at the moment, not far from Chester. I think what I'll try is seeing if a local auto electrician is about tomorrow and see if there is anything that can be done. If not I guess it'll be a case of rigging up my DVM so I can watch voltage abd figure it out from there.

Ideally I would prefer to try and get a second hand alternator just to get home but the chances of doing that on New Years Day are pretty much zero, tomorrow is a possibility but I'll have to play it by ear. At least I can stay put for now but need to get back home tomorrow.
 
classic kev said:
Thanks guys but it kinda looks like it'll be an exciting jouney home. BTW I'm in N.Wales at the moment, not far from Chester. I think what I'll try is seeing if a local auto electrician is about tomorrow and see if there is anything that can be done. If not I guess it'll be a case of rigging up my DVM so I can watch voltage abd figure it out from there.

Ideally I would prefer to try and get a second hand alternator just to get home but the chances of doing that on New Years Day are pretty much zero, tomorrow is a possibility but I'll have to play it by ear. At least I can stay put for now but need to get back home tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Yella & stig are up that neck of the woods If yu wanna give em a shout on OHLI. pretty sure Stig will have summat you can use. & yu can pick me Series heater & fan up of yella while ya there. :D
 
Sean, Kev - I am a bit confused - did yu change the regulator, or the diode pack? they do different things. The Regulator regulates :doh: the voltage, the diode pack rectifies (smooths) the voltage.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
Sean, Kev - I am a bit confused - did yu change the regulator, or the diode pack? they do different things. The Regulator regulates :doh: the voltage, the diode pack rectifies (smooths) the voltage.
Click to expand...

yer i know, but when someone mentioned attaching bulbs across the battery to try and lower the voltage (!!!!!!!!!!!) i went and hid behind the sofa in case the battery exploded
 
i know wot yu mean - sometimes the best advice is .........


take it to someone that knows ;).


at least it aint wiring up a mains switch - that can kill ya - this will only give yu first degree acid burns :eek:.
 
classic kev said:
Hope somebody can get me out of a spot of bother:eek:

My '91 RRC is having a bit of an electrical glitch. I'm getting close to 19v at the battery with no electrical load (engine running). I suspected voltage regulator so have just finished putting a new one on but no change. I can limit voltage to about 17v with lights, heated rear screen and air con on but the problem is I am 200 miles from home and would prefer to get the problem resolved.

The alternator is a Lucas A133/80. Brushes are good, voltage regulator is brand new. Any ideas or in the alternative what are the chances of being able to get it home without cooking the electrical system or the battery?
Click to expand...

sounds like the 12v ignition fed battery light wire has gone ****ty if you disconnect that wire and short to earth-does battery light glow brightly with ignition on?
If not I'd suspect high resistance which is stopping regulator functioning.

oh and the plugs burn out.
 
Last edited:
Cheers guys I appreciate the support. Fanatic, I will have a look at that in the morning.
MHM, only changed out the voltage regulator - the ignition light was not coming on witht he engine on or off so didn't suspect rectifier/diode pack.
J the Range - if I'm really stuck will drop you a PM.

I have a lead on a possible get me home fix, a friend of my other half has an alternator off a Disco 1 diesel - I'm hoping I can use that but I have a nasty feeling that it won't have the right terminals on the back of it in as much as it probably has a plug rather than the three terminals I have on mine, but it's got to be worth a look.
 
or blown bulb either way= over charging

as a get you home either straight to batt + with fuse (but remove fuse when stopped)
or fused ignition feed (anything you can get to easy)
will get you home
 
fanatic said:
or blown bulb either way= over charging

as a get you home either straight to batt + with fuse (but remove fuse when stopped)
or fused ignition feed (anything you can get to easy)
will get you home
Click to expand...

Sorry boss you lost me a bit there:confused: I'm pretty sure it is over charging, DVM shows too many volts across battery and from Alternator out to batt neg. Are you suggesting that I can take off the ignition/charge light wire (I think that's the small brown/yellow wire) and run a flying lead from that to the battery with a fuse in the way? Should be able to do that - can I be stooopid and ask what size fuse might be suitable?
 
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