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Alternator keeps failing

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Old Oct 26, 2019 | 11:26 PM
  #41  
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Dang good question....

But, again, all that points to the fact that the battery is not the primary provider of power to those fans as presently wired. The battery would not 'care' about some inductive kickback. Just because the battery is "connected" to the same power line, it doesn't mean that the behavior of the current flow will be the same as if the fan wiring was closer to the battery. In this scenario, the resistances IN the wiring are important.

Last edited by 7T1vette; Oct 26, 2019 at 11:31 PM.
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Old Oct 27, 2019 | 10:36 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Dang good question....

But, again, all that points to the fact that the battery is not the primary provider of power to those fans as presently wired. The battery would not 'care' about some inductive kickback. Just because the battery is "connected" to the same power line, it doesn't mean that the behavior of the current flow will be the same as if the fan wiring was closer to the battery. In this scenario, the resistances IN the wiring are important.

DC electricity is as slow as molasses compared to the speed of light- IIRC up to about 600 miles per second...versus 186000 miles per second.

So yep- the closer to the battery the better.

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Old Oct 27, 2019 | 11:53 AM
  #43  
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DC motor becomes a generator and generates about the same voltage as what was applied when power gets cut. Then it decays as the speed slows down.
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Old Oct 27, 2019 | 12:21 PM
  #44  
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I had a similar problem in my 81. I went through about 6 alternators before the oriley said no more, something else is wrong.

Turns out the problem was really simple. By chance, I noticed the key buzzer was abnormally hot and of course it wasn't working. Seems like it got stuck in a permabuzz.

I just yanked the buzzer from the fuse area the problem has never returned.

I considered replacing it but if it happened once, it's gonna happen again.

Last edited by GettnBetter; Oct 27, 2019 at 12:21 PM.
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Old Oct 27, 2019 | 07:29 PM
  #45  
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81's like to eat alternators and A/C compressors. It also likes to swallow ram bushings on steering, and hoses now and then.
Last trip to Death Valley I smoked an SI. Maybe number 6?
Now I use a direct fit AD130? Power Master.
No issues running Route 66 to Chicago and beyond or PCH to Oregon and back.



Last edited by Big2Bird; Oct 27, 2019 at 08:15 PM.
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Old Nov 21, 2019 | 01:04 PM
  #46  
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Thanks for information, helps me a lot.
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