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batteries over charging

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020.

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  1. Sep 4, 2020 #1
    irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    1996 pete 378 3406e cat

    yesterday i noticed my batteries are way overcharging. above 15v in the red zone.
    Im able to keep the voltage down by keeping all my lights on so I hopefully dont fry them.
    I put a brand new alternator on this morning with no change thinking the voltage regulator was bad.

    After my run today I turn the truck off and 100% loose all power. Figit with the battery cable going to the starter and all the power comes back on. Checked my battery connections and everything is tight, no corrosion.

    I tested 2 batteries with a meter and they tested at 13.2 volts. I tested my other 2 and they where at 12.8 volts.

    What do I check next?
     
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    #1
    jamespmack Thanks this.
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  3. Sep 4, 2020 #2
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Canuckistan
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    My guess is you've got a poor connection where you jiggled the cables.

    If the alternator is sensing voltage at the battery, a poor connection on the big cable from the alternator to the batteries is going to put the alternator into full capacity, trying to push power through the poor connection.

    Actually chased my tail in the above scenario with a half-ton pickup truck. Voltage only spiked when pulling hard/taking off from a stop. Drove with my meter clamped to the battery and the battery voltage never got above 14. Voltmeter in the dash read 20. Battery cable to the engine block was bad but only lost connection when the engine torqued under load.
     
    AModelCat, Sep 4, 2020
    AModelCat, Sep 4, 2020
    #2
    Rideandrepair, spsauerland, rolls canardly and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Sep 4, 2020 #3
    jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Remove.
     
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    #3
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  5. Sep 4, 2020 #4
    irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    ?
     
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    #4
  7. Sep 4, 2020 #5
    jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    I didn't read your post correctly. Looks like you and Amodel have it covered.

    My post was kinda redundant.
     
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    #5
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  8. Sep 4, 2020 #6
    irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    Ah gotcha. Thanks
     
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    #6
    Rideandrepair and jamespmack Thank this.
  9. Sep 4, 2020 #7
    jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Just make sure you are load testing batteries individually.
     
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    jamespmack, Sep 4, 2020
    #7
    Rideandrepair and AModelCat Thank this.
  10. Sep 4, 2020 #8
    irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    Im going to check all the battery cable today and see. Maybe i have a broken one?

    Idk. Once she starts, she runs good
     
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    irishluck09, Sep 4, 2020
    #8
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  11. Sep 4, 2020 #9
    rolls canardly

    rolls canardly Road Train Member

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    Look cables over for green corrosion
    or a bump, or bubble, under the insulation.

    Fought the same demon, and it was my ground to frame,
    fixed that with those washers with teeth around the inside of hole,
    and also outside diameter. Coated the bolt thread/connection with that
    copper conductive never-seize. Sure was overkill, but problem
    persisted. Took that wire out and could feel a crunchy bubble
    about 3 inches from end. Changed it out and problem solved.
    BTW; measure wire and buy online, Freightliner wanted 80 bucks,
    got the same gauge wire online $48.00.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2020
    rolls canardly, Sep 4, 2020
    rolls canardly, Sep 4, 2020
    #9
    Rideandrepair and AModelCat Thank this.
  12. Sep 8, 2020 #10
    irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    UPDATE: problem fixed. Wasted $200 on an alternator for nothing too.

    So checked cables coming out of battery box thus weekrnd and found 2 problems. The sleeve that wraps around my cabkes had moved and caused my ground cable to rub against the box and cut into it. I put dielectric grease on cut and heatshrinked it to fix and moved sleeve back in its spot

    2nd problem. The positive cable pulled out from its post terminal which was barely making contact with the terminal which ultimately caused the truck to not want to start. Put on a new terminal and she starts like a champ again.
     

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    irishluck09, Sep 8, 2020
    irishluck09, Sep 8, 2020
    #10
    xsetra, Rideandrepair, rolls canardly and 1 other person Thank this.
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