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Voltage regulator issue
Im having and over voltage issue. On gen set or shore power
Everything seems fine. However whenever the main engine and is running I have around 16 volts.
Which sends both freedom 4000 inverters in to overload protection. Turn main engine off and within
Seconds first inverter comes back online and about 30 seconds lateral the second comes back.
My guess is it has something to do with the vanner equalizer. I have a new dn 50 alternator and a smaller alternator also. I unhooked the small one no change. Also this issue seems to be heat related
First thing in the morning all is good for about 30 minutes after that all is bad for the rest of the day .
Hopefully one of you guys can explain how this system works.
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52 Replies
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It sounds like a voltage regulator problem. I am not familiar with how CC set up its alternators for house battery charging, but I suspect it uses a 50DN for the house and it likely has an external voltage regulator that has a problem.
Strongly suggest to not run the coach with the alternator functioning until the voltage can be corrected. Over voltage on some electrical devices can be damaging and unsafe.
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That was my first thought
, but the 24 volt is right where it should be.
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Jeff, the 50DN is only for the house and has nothing to do with the 24V system.
The Vanner has nothing to do with the house batteries only the chassis batteries
The small alternator down low and to the right of the engine is the 24 Volt chasis alternator only and has a built in regulator.
The 50 DN has an external regulator that should be mounted up high in the engine compartment above the 50 DN. If it is one of the old metal Delco regulators there is an adjustment screw in the middle that you can adjust the voltage output.
But if it is putting out 16 volts it is probably shot and needs replacing.
You might can find one at NAPA but take the old one with you or you can get one at Elreg Manufacturing. They do all kind of alternator manufacturing.
If you have to drive a great distance to get help I think you can remove the 50 DN belt and run the generator to keep up the house batteries. On my 99 the alternator belt was the only device the belt runs. It comes off the engine driven water pump pulley and will not hurt anything to remove it. The water pump is gear driven off the engine.
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Everything Buddy said is correct.
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Thank you buddy. Do I just send dues to you from now on?
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Our Country Coach has the similar alternator and NAPA carries the voltage regulator. One time we found it was not the regulator but the push on connector going to the regulator so be sure to check all of those connections first. Ours acted the same way you are describing before I fixed the wire. The new NAPA regulators are sealed and do not have the variable output any longer (at least none that I found) but they put out a consistent voltage around 13.5-14VDC.
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Jeff, I would gladly accept any dues money but since Tom is hoarding all the dues money for his new 4 slide Marathon in 2020 I don’t think he will turn loose of any.
Hell, Jon has been trying to get his share for 10 years, he wants a new Corvette, his old one is wore out has a couple hundred miles on it.
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I’m still a little confused. This is for the house batt, but the regulator that’s in there now says 24 volts. When I cross the number to the new Delco number their site gives a choice of 12 or 24 volt. Which one do I need? It’s been a hell of a couple of days. I bought this coach from one of the advertisers on this site. And after three of their techs had no clue I find the answer here . It also looks like the 8 , 8D house batteries are cooked again. Bit they were a week old so I guess its time for new ones again. I have tons of questions and things to figure out. Next will be no 12 volt power to the dash accessories ( back up camera, gps) to name a couple.
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Jeff, at 16 volts sending charging current to the house batteries if it is a 12 volt system that is going to destroy batteries whose charging current in bulk is going to be 14.2 and about 13.4 for float.
But before you replace batteries you have to fix the alternator / regulator problem and the starting point is to verify the house voltage for your coach. As Buddy pointed out earlier the regulator has an adjustment, but it sounds like it has failed. Once you sort out that issue and have a regulated alternator output of about 13.8 or 13.9 volts (to protect the batteries and apply a maintenance charge only) only then determine if the batteries are bad and need replacement.
Hope the inverters shut down and protected themselves.
One way to verify house voltage is to see if the DC output on the inverters is 12Vlt DC.
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On top of the 50 DN there is an oval shaped red identification plate riveted to the alternator. You may need a mirror to read it because you can’t get your head in there to read the plate. It will give you the voltage and the amperage output of the alternator. If yours is original it should be about 270 amps and 12 volt.
If the regulator is labeled 24 volt I think it is wrong. Follow the wiring from that regulator and make sure it goes to the terminals on the 50 DN.
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I sure hope it didn’t have the wrong regulator. But it would make sense if it did. A 12volt alternator using a 24 volt regulator would run about 16 volts.
I just got the bus home. Phoenix to Wisconsin in two and a half days. The batteries might happier now that they have had a chance to cool down. My gut is they arent great. And that one inverter is bad. There will be a few of us digging into this today after work. Along with a whole list of other issues.
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Jeff, if you end up needing batteries, let me know.
Do you have any records of the regulator being changed? The 24 volt alternator for your chassis should have a built in regulator, is it possible someone put a non regulated alternator for the chassis and added the 24 regulator you’re seeing?
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Jeff: I’m 90 miles away just north of Milwaukee. I’m going to Rockford for an 8pm meeting next Thursday. If it helps, I can leave here in the morning and stop by and try to help you for a while. I have a Liberty, but maybe I can help you get things sorted out.
Buddy: What are you doing in Louisiana in all this heat? Why don’t you take a road trip to Janesville and teach Jeff everything he needs to know about his coach.
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Tom, if the house is a 50DN it is an external regulator.
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Tom you hit the nail on the head. The owner of the shop just caught where my 12 volt was put on a older 24 volt liberty and the 24 volt regulator was put on my bus. (I wouldn’t want to be that tech today). My bus has now cooked 16 8D’s. In the last two weeks. This is why I was confused on the regulator earlier. It was changed but I didn’t know. I just had a gut feeling it wasn’t right.
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