Battery Warning Light?
Discussion
Either alternator or 100 amp fuse. If it's been running like this for a while then it isn't a major problem. Could be the voltage regulator?
theaxe said:
Either alternator or 100 amp fuse. If it's been running like this for a while then it isn't a major problem. Could be the voltage regulator?
Remove the 100amp fuse
that sorts out that problem! Since i changed my alternator the red light stays on for a few seconds until the rev counter hits 3k revs...then it is fine.
If your alternator is putting out 14v i would start tracing the system to see if there are any faults / broken wires / bad earths etc...
Edited by andy-w on Wednesday 22 November 13:26
theaxe said:
Either alternator or 100 amp fuse. If it's been running like this for a while then it isn't a major problem. Could be the voltage regulator?
what exactly does the 100amp fuse do? I may get the guys servicing mine to check it out. Where is the voltage regulator also? just so i can check this out too.
I had the same a few weeks ago after leaving the interior light on and assumed it was just a low battery. The Accumate had no joy and a run to try and get some juice into the terminally knackered battery finished off the alternator. Not happy as I ended up having to replace both which was more than a few shekels 
.
. The fault is most likely a faulty rectifier diode in the alternator. The bulb is connected at one connection to the ignition +ve and the other side is connected to the field circuit in the alternator. When the alternator is stationary the field connection is at earth potential hence the bulb lights. The current running through the bulb is used to excite the field so that the alternator starts charging when it's rotating. The ac current is then supplied via rectifier diodes to the field which causes the voltage to rise to 14ish volts and with 14 volts on both sides of the bulb it goes out.
Hope this is clear. I used to be responsible for the technical spec and implementation of alternator test equipment at Lucas. Good old days.
Mike
Hope this is clear. I used to be responsible for the technical spec and implementation of alternator test equipment at Lucas. Good old days.
Mike
phlap said:
I had the same a few weeks ago after leaving the interior light on and assumed it was just a low battery. The Accumate had no joy and a run to try and get some juice into the terminally knackered battery finished off the alternator. Not happy as I ended up having to replace both which was more than a few shekels .
. If the battery is flat, an accumate or similar battery conditioner will not recharge it. A proper battery charger is needed to provide sufficient current to do the job and it can take 8 to 10 hours. It is also a bit of a myth that driving around for a few miles will charge a battery as very often the car's electrical load is such that there is little current available for charging.
Use an accumate or similar to keep the battery in good condition during long periods of inactivity.
If the battery is flat, use a charger.
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