[DeTomaso] smokin Pantera
SOBill at aol.com
SOBill at aol.com
Sat Mar 29 13:31:40 EDT 2008
Markus,
We can solve this problem.
At _http://www.panteraplace.com/Electrical/Power%20Distribution.pdf_
(http://www.panteraplace.com/Electrical/Power%20Distribution.pdf) you will find a
very top level diagram, which I will also send to you directly, showing the
complete power distribution system on a Pantera. A key part of the diagram is
the connection between the alternator, the ammeter, and the battery. The
ammeter directly indicates the flow of electrical current into or out of the
battery. All the electrical loads in the Pantera on are the alternator side of the
ammeter. Thus, when things are working normally, the alternator provides all
the current required to operate the electrical loads but this load current
does not go thru the ammeter. The only current thru the ammeter is the current
entering or leaving the battery.
How can you tell if the alternator is working normally? With the engine and
all electrical loads turned off, measure the battery voltage. The battery
voltage should be around 12.5 volts for afully charged battery. Start the
engine, rev the engine to 2,000 rpm with all the electrical loads turned off.
Measure the voltage at the battery. The voltage at the battery should be 13 to 14
volts. The amount by which the voltage at the battery with engine running
exceeds the voltage at the battery with the engine off is direct measure of the
charging current into the battery.
Any other way to see if the alternator is working correctly? Start the
engine, immediately turn the engine off. Start the engine, immediately turn the
engine off. This sequence will draw significant current from the battery. Start
the engine. Watch the ammeter. rev the engine to 2,000 rpm. The ammeter
should need near full scale for several seconds as the battery is being charged.
Holding 2,000 rpm, the ammeter will start to gradually come down from full
scale over a period of around one minute as the battery is returning to full
charge. When the battery is has been returned to full charge the ammeter will
read slightly to the right of zero.
What to do with your car?
If this doesn't happen with your car, what can we do?
We know that your battery/ammeter/electrical load connection is correct
because when the
headlights are on, we see the headlight load current being drawn from the
battery on the ammeter. Start your engine, turn on the headlights, watch the
discharge current on the ammeter, slowly increase the engine rpm, the discharge
current should decrease toward zero as engine speed increases and the
alternator supplies current to the headllights. It should not take many rpm to get
the ammeter to zero. If the discharge doesn't decrease with rpm, the
alternator is not providing any current. If the discharge decreases only a small
amount, the alternator is not providing enough current.
If the alternator is not providing any current, likely there is an open
circuit between the alternator and the ammeter. If the alternator is providing
enough current, likely there is a poor connection between the ammeter and the
alternator. An open circuit or poor connection on the alternator can be on the
ground side as well as the 12V side. Alternators are made of aluminum.
Aluminum ozidizes in the atmosphere. Aluminum oxide is an insulator. Wire brush
the mounting surfaces of the alternator and the mounting bracket so they are
shiny. If your alternator has a ground stud on the case, install a heavy ground
wire from the alternator directly to the chassis.
Let me know how what you find with your tests.
We can solve this problem.
SOBill Taylor
sobill at aol.com
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