VOLTAGE DROP

Submitted: Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 18:04

ThreadID: 12701 Views:1643 Replies:4 FollowUps:3

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GQMAVERICK

I AM HAVING A DRAMA WITH VOLTAGE DROP WHEN DRIVING, I RECENTLY REPLACED MY ALT. BELT AND HAVE SINCE ADJUSTED AND APPLIED BELT GRIP TO ENSURE NO SLIPPAGE. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT I AM RECIEVING CHARGE AT IDLE (VERY CONFUSED). THE CAR IS SEEING AN AUTO ELECCY NEXT WEEK BUT THOUGHT SOMEONE MAY BE ABLE TO NARROW PROBLEM DOWN FOR ME!!!!. VOLTAGE STARTS AT AROUND 12.6 AND DROPS TO 11ISH VOLTS AFTER AROUND 25KMS OF DRIVING WITH NO ACCESSORIES ON. THANKYOU FOR ANY INFO YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

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Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 18:36

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 18:36

Ooh ... no need to SHOUT. Sounds like the regulator is cactus.

Auto leccy is your best bet as you suggest.

Cheers

AnswerID: 57749

Reply By: Eric Experience. - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:03

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:03

GQ.
You probably have worn out brushes, about $4 to by and fit yourself, I think every driver who goes bush should learn to change a set of brushes. Have a go. Eric.

AnswerID: 57776

Reply By: Bilbo - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 23:46

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 23:46

Yep - I agree about the brushes. I did mine in the bush. Can be a bit tricky pulling the tails back to get the commutator back in place. Another pair of hands and thin wire or fishing line is handy.

Should be about an hour's work fopr an auto-sparky.

If you can't get Nissan brushes you can use Toyota ones but you 'll have to shorten 'em by about 4 mm. My old GQ is still running with Toyota brushes in it. Good as gold.

Blibo

AnswerID: 57789

Reply By: Member - Dave (Pilbara) - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 20:04

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 20:04

Sorry people but alternators do not have brushes. I agree the problem may be the regulator. Were you getting mixed up with the starter motor perhaps.
Brushes went out with old DC generators back in the 60s.
for and explination on alternators have a look at this link.http://www.misterfixit.com/alterntr.htm
or this http://www.vtr.org/maintain/alternator-overview.html

AnswerID: 57888

Follow Up By: brett - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 03:06

Monday, May 10, 2004 at 03:06

Every alternator I've pulled apart has always had a pair of brushes in them, and they were made along time after the 60's. If they don't have brushes what do they use?

FollowupID: 319674

Follow Up By: brett - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 03:14

Monday, May 10, 2004 at 03:14

This is straight from the site you mentioned

Quote:
We'll start our tour of the alternator where it all starts in the alternator itself - at the alternator rotor. The rotor consists of a coil of wire wrapped around an iron core. Current through the wire coil - called "field" current - produces a magnetic field around the core. The strength of the field current determines the strength of the magnetic field. The field current is D/C, or direct current. In other words, the current flows in one direction only, and is supplied to the wire coil by a set of brushes and slip rings.

FollowupID: 319675