[Mike, 92 Country Coach]

What do you mean by overcharging?

[Richard]

My reply came back to me for some reason.

The gauge is maxed out going down the road, and the batteries are venting acid.

[Mike, 92 Country Coach]

Measure the battery voltage with the bus sitting engine off, then fire it up and check the voltage again with the engine running. Report your results

[Richard]

OK will do

[Roscoeapproved]

Remove the trigger wire from tje regulator. If that stops the constant charge, the regulator is bad. You can put a charger on the chassis batteries run off of your genetator to get where you need to go. If removing the wire from the regulator doesnt stop the charge, the alternator needs to be tested for an internal short or there is a shorted wire in the external charge control wiring.

---

Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL

[Richard]

I measured the voltage with the bus off, it is 27. I measured the voltage on high idle; it is 40.

I have a pos, neg, and field connection on my regulator, I take it that I can safely remove the field wire, and if it stops overcharging, I can connect a battery charger to the start batteries to recharge them by using my generator? Do I have to do that constantly, or can I do that in intervals along the way?

[Roscoeapproved]

Yes, the field wire. Just be aware that if your chassis batteries get below 24 volts, the Ddec will shut it down. The computer needs a full 12 volts (1\2•24 )I personally would do a constant charge.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by  Roscoeapproved.

---

Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL

[Richard]

Well, I made it to my destination without my alternator connected. I ran during the days, then charged my batteries overnight maintaining proper voltage. I plan on removing my alternator and having it tested / fixed.

Thanks for the info

[Roscoeapproved]

Thats great news. Good luck on the diagnosis and repair.

---

Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL