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Lost Alternator Power
Traveling then ‘Master Switch’ green light comes on showing open circuit. Battery symbol comes on. Gauge shows 24 volts instead of 28. Pull over start checking voltages. Zero at ‘Field” terminals on D50 Alternator. Zero on main terminal on top. Battery Isolator shows 3.8 volts. Vannare equilizers both showing a bgreen light. Afraid battery voltage will drop and DDEC will shut down. My guess is Alternator or Voltage Regulator, which I believe is built in to the Alternator. Any other suggestions. IAm in Woodward Oklahoma and they are all Oil Field technicians. Was directed to a RV dealer by one Detroit shop so, needless to say, I left in a hurry.
Being southern born, I sothern engineered it to get me to town. I plugged an extension cord in and ran it to the Chassis battery charger, duct taped it along side from the entertainment bay to the electrical bay. Yes this H has a 110 outlet in the electrical bay, but it goes dead when the master switch is on to keep the battery charger from conflicting with the alternator (I am guessing). That extension cord rigging allows me to at least run and I am hoping that it will supply voltage through the batteries to the DDEC. I am about 100 miles from Oklahoma City. Does anyone have a good contact in Okey City that can trouble shoot and fix my delima?
Fred
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13 Replies
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Yes sir Freddy, as seen on your PC Map under repair and service you will see the following:
United Engine – Detroit / Allison
5555 W Reno Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73127
(405) 445-6319
http://www.unitedengines.com/
Open 24 hours…PC member says great service, outstanding follow up. I-40 & MacArthur’United engines was awesome! Diagnosed the problem in 30 minutes.’
Submitted By: Triple Foxtrot
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OK Tom. IS MY FACE RED !!!!! Look at who posted that on the map??You can put an S for ‘stupid’ on my forehead at the next gathering. Seriously, I have had my brain wrapped around the problem that I did not even think of the MAP. I will blame it on age.
THANKS, I will call them.
Triple stupid, uh, I mean Triple Foxtrot.
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Triple foxtrot,
Sorry you have a problem, it sounds like your going for help.
If parts are in KC you give me a call. I’ll pick them up and get them to you. I’am 5 hours to OKC.
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Thanks for the offer BA. If I need you I will give a hollar. I know that delivery charges would be high…probably more than a Big Mac at the Golden Arch Club (McDonalds).
Thank you again for the offer.
3-F
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Years ago we had a Rally in OKC and United put on a seminar at their facility and put two buses in the air for training purposes and then provided lunch for everyone.
It’s OK Fred, you have a little stress going at the moment.
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One thing I hope everybody does before they spend much time on the road in their coach. Triple F will appreciate and understand this because as a pilot he practiced what I am about to suggest.
With your coach do “what if” scenarios. Your bus is a complex assembly of parts and systems so you might as well accept the fact that over time everything is going to quit or break. So based on how your converter set up your coach and its systems think about how you will deal with a broken gizmo. It could be your house water pump, an inverter, the generator, a transfer switch, or any of the other myriad of things that make the bus work.
Some things the answer is you ignore the problem and complete your trip without fixing the problem. An example of that might be a TV or a dump valve if you have a macerator.
But in Fred’s case specifically his alternator or voltage regulator failed and something is broke and he isn’t making little electrons. Fred, relax. Breath in and breath out. Step one……….start the generator. That will apply power to the inverters which in turn will keep the house batteries charged. Then assuming you have a 24 volt three stage charger for the chassis, turn it on. Now you are just limited to not driving at night or running many chassis electrical loads. (I assumed you had a chassis charger.)
My point is know your coach well enough to have a plan for as many things as you can think of. If you don’t have an inverter by=pass or a second house water pump think about adding those because they might have the potential to end a trip. Mentally imagine what you will do in every case. The answer may be as simple as carrying a spare belt or gizmo. The answer may be to carry a map with the locations of every Detroit dealer. But when the fit hits the shan the first thing to do is relax, think, and fall back on your plan.
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Was just informed that it was a cable that gave up. Why? I don’t know, but at least it was not the D50 alternator. That would have made a big hit on the bank account.
Jon is correct about pre-planning. One thing now on my to-do list is to install a ‘hot’ 120 volt outlet in the Electric Bay so that I can plug in the charger if I have another alternator problem. That way I will not have to Duct Tape a bright yellow extension cord along the side of the coach 😉 The present outlet shuts down when the key is on to prevent the charger and alternator from conflicting and melting one of them. But first, I plan on researching the electrical diagrams and see if I might be able to just pull a silly-noid that will prevent the current 120 outlet in the electrical Bay for the charger from shutting down.
As discribed… these buses are “a work in progress.”
Thank you PC for your help and your “MAP”
3-F
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If you have multiple charger sources, such as you have if you are running the engine and the generator the voltage regulators won’t allow an excess charge. Any charger should be a “smart” three stage charger.
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Tom,
I was there and recall how immaculately clean the underside of Kevin Erion’s coach was. I’m sure if it was turned upside down we could have eaten lunch anywhere on that undercarriage. Simply stunning.
His was one of two that were on the lifts. Was your the second one on the lift? I should have let them change my fuel filter while there but didn’t. That’s a story for some other time.
Still have, and wear, the hats they gave out.
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Fred,
You must have a plug in the engine compartment for the block heater, right?
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Yes, but it also turns off when the key is on. I checked that. I also have an outlet labeled “Plumbing bay outlet” back by the starter on the bulkhead. I don’t understand the lable either, but it also goes dead with the key on.
Is it too early to start drinking?
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United Engines in Oklahoma City gave me quick service on very short notice and got me back on the road. Great service and great people to deal with.
Fred
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Great!
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