Batteries charge

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Zicko1993, Mar 7, 2025.

  1. Zicko1993

    Zicko1993 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 7, 2020
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    Hey guys, my truck always kept 14.2 V while driving and lights, accessories and motor blower is on, recently it started to go down, meaning if I turn the headlights on it drops to 13.9 and if i add the motor blower it drops to 13.7, I had a new alternator and put it on and it is still doing the same thing, the batteries are 2 months old and they aren’t the cheap kind, it used to go to 14.2 in the morning as soon as I start it, now it is slowly going up, I checked the serpentine belt also good, any idea where to start ? It’s a 379 with C15
     
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  3. MTMAUS

    MTMAUS Light Load Member

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    why is it a problem? I know it use to do something different, but whats the actual issue at the moment?
     
  4. Zicko1993

    Zicko1993 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 7, 2020
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    It’s supposed to stay at 14.2 Volts even when running all the accessories, now it drops when you turn on the accessories to 13.7, batteries and alternator are new.
     
  5. MTMAUS

    MTMAUS Light Load Member

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    who says its supposed? mine doesnt and never has...had multiple trucks and never seen a 14 pluser...
     
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  6. Zicko1993

    Zicko1993 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 7, 2020
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    Maybe it’s not supposed to but I had this truck for 2 years always was at 14.2 and accessories doesn’t affect it but now it drops the voltage to 13.7, are you saying that there’s nothing to worry about
     
  7. MTMAUS

    MTMAUS Light Load Member

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    could be, parasitic draw, bad battery, bad alternator, bad cables, bad ground, something could be chewing up the volts and about to #### itself, bad gauge.

    or it could be nothing...

    welcome to electrics. up to you how much time and effort you want to put into
     
    Siinman, dosgatos, Opendeckin and 2 others Thank this.
  8. JB7

    JB7 Medium Load Member

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    Not likely to be the alternator as you replaced it. I would still have it checked along with the batteries with the newer conductance type testers. Then clean grounds and coat with either dielectric grease or fluid film. See if you can use a voltmeter in place of the gauge. Truck is at least 18 yrs old so bad cables are possible. Voltage drop easy to check with one lead at one end of a cable and other lead at other end. Plenty of online videos.
    Check drop on the + side below by placing one end of the meter on the B+ at the alternator and the other on the + at the battery. Retractable leads are $10 - $30 as multimeter leads are not long enough.
    [​IMG]
     
    Siinman and Numb Thank this.
  9. Zicko1993

    Zicko1993 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 7, 2020
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    Thank you that’s definitely a good start
     
  10. Spyro2112

    Spyro2112 Medium Load Member

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    Mar 17, 2018
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    Tighten your cables. Tension pulley
    Bad battery
     
    Zicko1993 Thanks this.
  11. dosgatos

    dosgatos Medium Load Member

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