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-   -   Serious electrical problem (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=36593)

tullow 11-25-2008 11:59 PM

Not as bad as I thought
 
I've just come back on here and I have read all of your helpful hints and information.
John, thanks for the details re Vans instruments and the alternator, I most likely will change it or have it checked out in a specialist shop.
Seth, the guy who reversed the connections is , as you can imagine, a little down in the mouth, but as they say , there are those that you have made and those that you will make, - I'm talking about mistakes here.
The law of Murphy being what it is, it's certainly best to modify the leads or circuit so that it's not possible to reverse the connections.

Moral of the whole story -- check and check again , don't take anything for granted

once again many thanks to all,

great to be part of the RV builders/flyers community

Mike

tullow 11-27-2008 02:08 AM

Engine run
 
All is well that ends well,-well almost !!

After having checked all the Vans instruments individually, the only one which seems to have a serious problem is the ammeter, I disconnected the alternator and ammeter and then started the engine yesterday,everything indicating in the green .
It really is something to turn that ignition key for the first time and have your pride and joy come to life for the first time.
I'll order a new ammeter and check that there isn't a serious mismatch between it and the shunt which would explain some of it's abnormal indications.

Best regards to all

Mike

rvbuilder2002 11-28-2008 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tullow (Post 275693)
All is well that ends well,-well almost !!

After having checked all the Vans instruments individually, the only one which seems to have a serious problem is the ammeter, I disconnected the alternator and ammeter and then started the engine yesterday,everything indicating in the green .
It really is something to turn that ignition key for the first time and have your pride and joy come to life for the first time.
I'll order a new ammeter and check that there isn't a serious mismatch between it and the shunt which would explain some of it's abnormal indications.

Best regards to all

Mike

Depending on what the abnormal indications are, it is possible that it is simply connected backwards a crossed the shunt.

tullow 11-29-2008 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002 (Post 276002)
Depending on what the abnormal indications are, it is possible that it is simply connected backwards a crossed the shunt.

Scott, the abnormal indications are as follows --
With everything connected up,when I select the battery switch On , the ammeter indicates +35amps. !! ie a charge of 35 amps even though the engine and alternator are stopped. I reversed the wires at the shunt but the indication remains the same.
Yesterday I ran the engine with the alternator connected and its output seemed normal ie 14.8 V .

I am now awaiting the new ammeter from Vans to see if that solves the amps indicating problem.

All in all I think I got off very lightly for what was potentially a very big mistake

all the best

Mike

rv8ch 11-29-2008 11:55 AM

Red and Black
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by az_gila (Post 275299)
....RED and BLACK heat shrink to color code the battery wires.

I also put some red tape on the battery next to the post - the faint + sign was not easy to see...


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