| Author |
Message |
Phil Pellowski (Viater) (208.14.205.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 12:27 pm: | |
I'm pretty new to working on busses. I think my PD4106 is not charging. When I perform the standard "Volt meter across the terminal" check I see that the voltage drops when the bus is started and running. It seems the large terminal coming off the generator is magnetized so I suspect it's working. My initial suspicion is the voltage regulator located behind the battery compartment however because that's where the put my tanks, if I want to access it I figure I'm gong to have to cut an access hole behind the top battery. Any ideas on this? Also, I'm not too happy with the way my bus has been wired on the house side. I'd like to add a breaker panel and run all my house electricity through it. Anyone know of any good books that will give me an idea of how to best do this? ....Thanks, |
Ted Calvert (Chowbus) (192.132.225.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 10:05 pm: | |
Don't know about your '06; my '04, if I remember correctly from the prints, had a low-scale, zero-center voltmeter across the regulator which would indicate drop across it and therefore charging or not. Since that meter was smoked, I installed a voltmeter from the load side of "Run/Stop" switch to ground. That won't indicate charging rate per se, but the system voltage is a good indication of status. In other words, it shows around 12 volts when stopped or at idle, and around 14 at speed.
For troubleshooting high-current systems like these, a D.C.(Hall effect sensor) Ammeter is very handy. A.C. only units will not work. These A.C. & D.C. meters are becoming more common. Maybe if you have an industrial maintenance electrician buddy you can borrow one. As a second choice, J.C. Whitney lists a magnetic D.C. Ammeter for starter current, probably a case of getting what you pay for.
Good Luck.
Ted. |
Ted Calvert (Chowbus) (192.132.225.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 10:14 pm: | |
Sorry, I forgot about part 2 of your question.
You don't have a breaker or fuse panel? That's real scary!
I hear that Dave Galey has written books & articles on bus conversion, and they are available at the BNO store. Also George Meyers seems knowledgeable on this topic.
You'll find much heated discussion on wiring methods elsewhere on this board!
Ted. |
Gary Carter (32.102.59.191)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 12:53 pm: | |
The problem is probably a combination of the regulator and the relay, but the main culprit is the relay. Over a period of time the contacts get dirty/pitted and may have to be replaced. Problem is the relay is no longer available as a direct replacement and you will have to fabricate your own.
The main reason all this happened is that GM used the same line to supply field current and sample the battery voltage. I modified my regulator years ago to avoid this problem.
Your first task is to move the regulator and relay around the corner so you have easy access to them. |
Phil Pellowski (Viater) (208.14.205.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 12:45 pm: | |
Gary, I think my relay is accessible, isn't it on the passenger side of the bus in a little access door crammed full of wires, cannon plugs, relays etc.? ...The regulator seems to be in the aft storage compartment. I plan to move that as soon as I cut a hole in the back of the battery compartment.
There was mention of modifying the regulator to avoid this problem. How would you recommend I do that? My idea was to jumper through the relay where the field currents pass through to the regulator. I'm just not really sure what terminals I'll need to jumper through. Of course this would probably eliminate the safety feature where I'm unable to energize the starter with the engine running however, that feature has already been by-passed with an additional starter relay in order to get the bus to run.
Any thoughts on this process by you fellas with more experience, would be appreciated. |
Gary Carter (32.102.59.67)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 6:17 pm: | |
The sence relay is located on the bulkhead behind the batteries. BTW Luke at US Coach still has some new relays. |