speedyxjs
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 08:05 AM |
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Alternator Charging Question
We have a 1.3 fiat doblo freezer van. This morning i noticed it struggled to start (just kept turning over but not firing). I checked the battery
which was 12.45v so that was fine but i thought id check the charging. With the freezer off, the voltage across the battery was 14.3 but when i
switched the freezer back on, it was 13.4.
The battery is only 250ah whereas our 1.9 doblo (charges at 14.1 with freezer on) is 380ah.
Would getting a more powerful battery increase the charge?
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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jonesier1
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 08:13 AM |
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no,the 1.9 will have a higher rated alternator,your charge rate seems fine but with the freezer fitted it may pay to fit an uprated alterntor
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 08:22 AM |
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Anyone know where i might find an uprated alternator for a 1.3 doblo (vx engine i think)
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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l0rd
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 09:07 AM |
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You can always use a generator like James May did in Geoff.
Just start it on before you switch on the ignition.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 09:28 AM |
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to answer you first question, no a larger battery will not help as the charge current is not greater than the current being used so gradually even a
huge battery would become discharged.
If you go to somewhere like Halfords, they will be able to show you all the different amperages available for that van, even for a sierra for example
there's about 5 different outputs ranging from 30 - to around 85 amps depending on the spec the car has.
[Edited on 2/12/09 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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l0rd
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 11:51 AM |
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I would think that one from a 1.9 diesel doblo would be sufficient?
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britishtrident
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| posted on 2/12/09 at 01:23 PM |
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The charging voltage depends on the state of charge of the battery you should find the charging voltage with the freezer on will increase once the
battery gets a decent time on charge. Ambient temperature also has a major effect.
With most modern vehicles it is no longer possible to just throw in an uprated alternator as it was in the days of the Sierra. On modern vehicles the
atlernator charging rate is controlled by the engine management ECU.
To run a freezer the best approach is to fit a second "lessure battery" to run the freezer and charge this via a smart split charge
relay.
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 6/12/09 at 12:20 AM |
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I take it those two voltages are when the engine's running?
The only problem that would occur is if the alternator can't provide enough amperage to supply the freezer and whatever else you have on.
Although this shouldn't really be the case it might be worth doing small things like switching your lights off as early as is safe and keeping
the heater on low for a while and see if that makes any difference.
Then again if it's turning but not firing it might be a plug (or relative area) problem?
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