Date:         Mon, 18 Jul 2005 08:09:06 -0700
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Ken

Yeah, that's what I did and it was reading 13.7-13.8V on my digital VOM
at the alt under load. Never had a problem with the charging until I
started using the AC which must suck at LOT more juice from the alt.
But still, why only 13.7V output instead of something like 14.1 like my
PV controller puts out from the solar panel? By the way, I did put a
layer of aluminized bubble insulation under the floorboards to prevent
hot-foot and wonder if that stuff is restricting air flow from the
radiator enough to kick the AC off and the rad. fan to high? I will
take a look under there today to see if any pieces of insulation have
dislodged and maybe blocked some air flow. That would sure answer the
fluctuating temp gauge/high-speed fan syndrome. Or is it normal for
Vanagons to do that when the outside temp is over 100?

        From:     kdlewis_wating_time@allvantage.com
        Subject:        Re:      [VANAGON] More AC woes...
        Date:   July 18, 2005 6:25:04 AM PDT
        To:       kovregaard@COMCAST.NET

Kieth,
Was that 13.7 at the alternator? I mean put the negative lead of the
VOM on
the body of the alternator and the positive lead on the output bolt (w/
full
load). Now do the same  right across the battery. Subtract the two.
What did
you get? I was loosing almost two volts!! With a little elbow greese
and a
few pieces of heavy wire I was able to get that under 1/4 volt. No more
dead
battery.
Ken Lewis
http://neksiwel.20m.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Ovregaard" <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 11:13 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] More AC woes...


> Hi all,
>
> I forgot to mention that not only is the AC shutting down to let the
> engine cool (as the temp gauge needle goes right of center), but the
> electrical drain is so big that the engine had trouble restarting. When
> I got home I put the charger on the two deep cycle batteries and it
> took a while to top them off. The readout was 80%  and 12.1V before the
> charge cycle started. I have a 75 watt PV panel on the roof that was
> kicking in 4-5 amps all day and still the voltage was getting sucked
> out of the batteries. Sounds like the regulator is not putting out
> enough juice, so I checked it and got only 13.7V under load (headlights
> on) and the readout on the charger indicated "0" for alternator output.
> The voltage from the alt. has always been kind of low compared to my
> Subaru (14.1V) and I have heard of other Vanagon owners that they have
> also noticed low voltage.
>
> Anybody got a modification fix or any ideas? Is this a "normal" voltage
> for Vanagon alternators?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
> Keith Ovregaard
> 84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper
> 90 Westy Syncro
>
>