Alternator and battery box

User avatar
biggles
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 506
Joined: 18 Nov 2013 05:17
Full Name: Steven
Nickname: Steve
Home Town: Durbanville
Current 4x4: GUII Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Alternator and battery box

Post by biggles »

Hi all

As a disclaimer I am a self confessed electro-ignoramus. Electricity is just something I cannot get my head around.

So my issue is a clicking battery box... the solenoid on the HCDP DC-DC charger is continuously kicking in and out. The manufacturer says that is due to the alternator output dropping below 13V which is where it stops charging to save the cars battery.

Apparently the fact that it is a 110A alternator makes no difference if the voltage is less than 13V from the alternator.

I have not directly measured the Voltage and will this week-end but it appears that my alternator is not putting out the required Voltage. Should I be worried?
With great Power comes Great Fuel Consumption
:layrubber:
Rodney
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 57
Joined: 15 Apr 2011 11:01
Full Name: Rodney Smith
Nickname: Rodney
Home Town: Port Elizabeth
Current 4x4: 2013 3.0D GL
Home Language: English
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by Rodney »

DITTI TO: "As a disclaimer I am a self confessed electro-ignoramus."

On my previous 3.0GL I started having ABS and airbag warning lights whilst in Namibia. Never battery/charging light. Long storey short apparently the alternator was periodically not putting out 13 Volt but (seemingtly more importantly) not putting out the correct amps. Destroyed a 14 month old crank battery. I would definitely have an auto electrician interrogate what is actually happening before the financial pain gets greater than it need be.
User avatar
SCUBA Patrol
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 412
Joined: 08 Apr 2009 11:15
Full Name: Phillip Jacobs
Nickname: Phillip
Home Town: Cape Town (Stellenbosch)
Current 4x4: Patrol 2006 3l diesel(die eerste Voetspore een)
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Cape Town, Stellenbosch (Paradyskloof)
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 32 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by SCUBA Patrol »

Sounds like an alternator "control unit" that is staring to pack up. Have a auto eleci check it out for you.
Phillip
2006 3l with MADMAN
User avatar
Peter Connan
Moderator
Posts: 6005
Joined: 10 Sep 2010 07:21
Full Name: Peter Connan
Nickname: Piet
Home Town: Kempton Park
Current 4x4: 1996 Patrol 4.5SGL
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 1065 times
Been thanked: 983 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by Peter Connan »

It is either as already stated a faulty alternator, or possibly far too thin cables between the battery box and the front end.

If you have an alternator, put the voltmeter on the main battery terminals with the engine running, and check. You should be seeing somewhere around 13.8 Volts.

If you see less than 13.6, you have an alternator problem. If you have more than that, repeat the test at the input terminals of your HCDP unit. If the voltage there is substantially less than at the main battery, your wires are too thin.
Mag ons ons kenniskry met lekkerkry aanhoukry.
User avatar
biggles
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 506
Joined: 18 Nov 2013 05:17
Full Name: Steven
Nickname: Steve
Home Town: Durbanville
Current 4x4: GUII Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by biggles »

Thanks i will look into this. The supplier of the battery box also supplies the cables 10mm if I recall can they have no issues similar to mine.

The one thing that also happens is I occasionally hook up the solar panel to the box. The 180W panels through a MPPT controller have no issue running the fridge and charging the battery in the caravan. But when hooked to the box I get a clicking same as when it is charged from the Patrol.

How available are alternators for the Patrols? How difficult are they to change?

I am prepping for a trip to Kaokoland in November and will only have a week at home to sort all this out.
With great Power comes Great Fuel Consumption
:layrubber:
User avatar
Peter Connan
Moderator
Posts: 6005
Joined: 10 Sep 2010 07:21
Full Name: Peter Connan
Nickname: Piet
Home Town: Kempton Park
Current 4x4: 1996 Patrol 4.5SGL
Home Language: Afrikaans
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 1065 times
Been thanked: 983 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by Peter Connan »

You probably don't need a whole new alternator, just a voltage regulator or possibly brushes. May be a good idea to replace the bearings if they have to strip it anyway (some alternators need to be stripped to replace the regulator and bushes, others don't. I am not sure which is fitted to the 4.8).

Any decent auto electrician should be able to do it in a day.

I doubt one is supposed to plug the solar panel into the DC/DC charger directly?
Mag ons ons kenniskry met lekkerkry aanhoukry.
User avatar
biggles
Patrolman
Patrolman
Posts: 506
Joined: 18 Nov 2013 05:17
Full Name: Steven
Nickname: Steve
Home Town: Durbanville
Current 4x4: GUII Patrol 4.8
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by biggles »

Interesting, Frans Fourie tests the alternator charging when they services teh vehicle and it was 13.7. It was clicking during that time (but not as bad).

Anyone have recommendations for DCDC chargers? I am thinking of turfing the one on the box and getting a ctek
With great Power comes Great Fuel Consumption
:layrubber:
pgreeff
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 187
Joined: 05 Apr 2014 20:51
Full Name: Paul Greeff
Nickname: Paul
Home Town: Centurion
Current 4x4: 2004 Nissan Patrol 4.8
2006 Nissan Hardbody 2.4 D/C 4x4
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 56 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by pgreeff »

I'm very happy with my WRND. I don't think it has any relays so no clicking noises. I've not seen any issues with it staying on while the Patrol is running. I also have it on my battery box in the back.
2004 Nissan Patrol 4.8
2006 Nissan Hardbody 2.4 D/C 4x4
User avatar
ricster
Patrolman 1000+
Patrolman 1000+
Posts: 5850
Joined: 13 Jan 2010 11:16
Full Name: Cedric Warner
Nickname: Cedric
Home Town: Alberton Gauteng
Current 4x4: '99 Nissan Patrol 4.2 Turbo Diesel
Home Language: English
Location: LA..... No not Los Angles ..... Lower Alberton, Gauteng
Has thanked: 591 times
Been thanked: 468 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by ricster »

I love my C-Tek 250 DS. You can pug your solar directly onto the unit as well. They are not cheap though, but I've had only good service from mine.
Regards
Cedric
Nissan Patrol GL 4.2 Diesel Turbo (Iron Maiden)
Nissan SANI 3.0 V6 4x4 (SOLD)
Isuzu KB 280 DT 2x4 ('ol Smokey) - SOLD
Suzuki TL 1000R "V twin" (Growler) - SOLD
User avatar
Tinus lotz
Moderator
Posts: 7579
Joined: 29 Aug 2010 13:07
Full Name: Tinus lotz
Nickname: Tinus lotz
Home Town: Centurion
Current 4x4: Nissan patrol 4.8 GRX 2005

Toyota 2.7 legend 35 LWB 4X4
Home Language: Afrikaans
Has thanked: 800 times
Been thanked: 549 times

Re: Alternator and battery box

Post by Tinus lotz »

C tec for the win .....very cool kit ask mamba he says very well buid kit he repaired Dawids one after big short
Post Reply

Return to “13. Electrical & Electronics”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests