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alternator question


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grumpybear
Novice

Aug 7, 2014, 12:07 AM

Post #1 of 15 (1513 views)
alternator question Sign In

i have a Toyota Coaster my alternator has been change and now has a heavy wire about a foot long which joins to 4 wires. These wires go straight to a positive block beside my battery from there 1 wire goes to my battery, which completes circuit from alternator to battery. I think before it had a external regulator now it has a internal one. It did have a large airconditioner at the back which has been taken completely out. What i would like to know can i put a single wire straight from alternator to the battery replacing what i have at the moment. Thanks for any help.


Hammer Time
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Aug 7, 2014, 2:21 AM

Post #2 of 15 (1491 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

No, you cannot. That is a special fused wire that carries the charging current back to the battery. There would be no reason to even consider that.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



grumpybear
Novice

Aug 7, 2014, 2:43 AM

Post #3 of 15 (1488 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

so your say all 4 wire are fused wires.


(This post was edited by grumpybear on Aug 7, 2014, 3:31 AM)


Hammer Time
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Aug 7, 2014, 3:17 AM

Post #4 of 15 (1483 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

Most likely, yes. All fusible links.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 7, 2014, 3:18 AM)


grumpybear
Novice

Aug 7, 2014, 3:31 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1472 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

 I have 2 sets of 2 batteries inside bus i want to be able to charge off the alternator in bad weather. So would if be safe to put a heavy duty switch in the line so i can switch over to the other batteries to charge them, just want to be able to disconnect from the bus main battery if need be.


Hammer Time
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Aug 7, 2014, 4:06 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1469 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

Sure, could do that. Just don't make any substitutions in that original wire.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 7, 2014, 4:09 AM

Post #7 of 15 (1467 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

grumpybear: Just what is this thing now? This is a web pic of a real passenger bus of what you named.............



If anything like it or now converted to a camper watch out what you do with just said "two sets of two batteries" and earlier rear air conditioning eliminated?


You probably have some creative machine now and need to be wary of all batteries all at once with such things. I've refused to do anything with monster vehicles just because of space except for yachts with multiple batteries. Noted that they had selector switches for "bank 1", "bank 2" or ''all" for charging or use plus the option on NONE. The idea was when hooked up to power source from land you quit using anything to do with its batteries.


Just guessing with alterations mentioned with this that it's not the bus it once was but a creative something and take some thinking with multiple batteries such that you don't kill them all with ONE failure some place.


If I'm even close with what this thing is now just think it out and yes you can get those switches at RV (recreational vehicle) places or marine supply places but still need to know just what you are powering, charging when and for what and I suspect you don't just yet. All the ones I worked on were already pre designed and wasn't (by chance) dealing with changes to anything but repair to assorted anythings as they did heat and air condition but heat pumps not run off engines so a bit different.


Correct or advise just what this bus is now and intended to be and do as it seems now you dealing with RV things?


T



grumpybear
Novice

Aug 7, 2014, 5:04 AM

Post #8 of 15 (1459 views)
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yes its a motorhome and i have 2 heavy duty switches i can use if needed . "bank 1", "bank 2" or ''all" only main camper battery or one of the 2 sets will be in use at any one time.


Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 7, 2014, 5:55 AM

Post #9 of 15 (1451 views)
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OK - seems like you are aware of it and of course looking right at things beats a forum. My time with assorted such things is many are so off of any standard one to another you have to really think.


The "sets" of batteries you would know best for the particular set up. Some I've just so much as looked at had wiring stuff all hidden behind some clever plywood made panel covered by a canvas with snaps to hide what a bird's nest of a mess was really there!


Gotta leave a lot of this up to your paying attention. Charging batteries by alternator was I n the stuff I was involved with was like you mentioned one set or the other as in like a back up set and "all" meant you were charging them all but didn't leave it at that setting any longer than to charge for reasons if not routinely switching which set is in use if that way at all.


Trouble as I said is with multiple batteries all ON you don't want to lose them all if something goes all wrong. A common suggestion with any two batteries is that they both be the same and same age so they don't fight with each other. If one failed the other goes with it type thing.


Use your head and make sure items are fused, proper gauge wire and any switches.


I'm totally limited for help for a camper creation except to warn of use of proper items and parts as there may not be any standard anything more than just the drivetrain of this thing,


Tom



Hammer Time
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Aug 7, 2014, 6:52 AM

Post #10 of 15 (1446 views)
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You NEVER want to have that switch in the both position for anything but an emergency start. It will take out that alternator in a heartbeat.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Aug 7, 2014, 4:01 PM

Post #11 of 15 (1431 views)
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Have you considered installing a battery isolator instead of using a bunch of disconnect switches? That way your main battery is isolated from the auxiliary batteries, but they all get charged by the alternator.







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 7, 2014, 4:10 PM)


grumpybear
Novice

Aug 9, 2014, 1:19 AM

Post #12 of 15 (1404 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

I am running a 1000w and a 1500w inverter one off each set of battery, what size fuse do it need for each one. Also where is best place to put the fuses, on battery end of wire heading to inverter or not?


Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 9, 2014, 3:17 AM

Post #13 of 15 (1401 views)
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Total IDK as there are different types. Have ONE states 800w peak w TWO 25A fuses on the device. It lies too as it will NOT spike to that voltage.


That one just has a choice of clamps to a battery or wires that came with it to leave it. If serious about inverter power you plain need to know specs for everything from the battery power available and inverter's real needs and that batteries are or should be "deep cycle" which means they would tolerate running low and be recharged multiple times when ordinary batteries wouldn't do well for long for that use.


Note: I wouldn't risk taking down BOTH sets of batteries such that you can start the vehicle/camper now and since alternator and unsaid as of yet ability or type of these batteries I'd charge them with land power NOT the vehicle now.


RV's with high consumption things like refrigerators never mind how much electrical A/C would use should really be plugged into land power or have a separate onboard generator isolated from this thing as a running vehicle IMO.


There's a list of things you may want or it has to run. Water, septic, lights, TV and more. Personally would rather have a generator aboard then use batteries but can't know if you don't say what you are trying to run this way. Some real at least marine that I'm more familiar with had refrigerators and things that the appliance automatically switched itself with engine(s) running or back to land power when hooked up and didn't need to touch anything as it was set up that way. Those dual power items that are smart to run on either are big bucks - I know that,


T



workahilic
New User

Sep 20, 2014, 6:32 AM

Post #14 of 15 (1297 views)
Re: alternator question Sign In

I've been working on DC electrical systems for 35 years now. This is the funniest diagram I think I've ever seen. You DO know, about the blow up doll for compressor thing, right?


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 20, 2014, 6:43 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1295 views)
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LOL. Finally, someone caught and mentioned it. Sorry, I can't help myself sometimes.. Tongue





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.






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