C.E. Niehoff & Co. N1326-1 Troubleshooting Guides - Manual

Page 1
TG0059A
Table of Contents
Section A: Wiring Diagram ......................................2
Section B: Basic Troubleshooting ............................3
Section C: Advanced Troubleshooting ......................4
Battery Conditions
Until temperatures of electrical
system components stabilize, these
conditions may be observed during cold start voltage tests.
• Maintenance/Low Maintenance Battery:
— Immediately after engine starts, system volts are
lower than regulator setpoint, and amps are
medium.
— 3-5 minutes into charge cycle, system volts
increase and amps decrease.
— 5-10 minutes into charge cycle, system volts
increase to, or near, regulator setpoint, and amps
decrease to a minimum.
— Low maintenance battery has same characteris-
tics with slightly longer recharge times.
• Maintenance-free Battery:
— Immediately after engine starts, system volts are
lower than regulator setpoint with low charging
amps.
— Once the charge cycle begins, low volts and low
amps are still present.
— After the alternator energizes, volts will increase
several tenths. Amps will increase gradually,
then quickly to medium to high amps.
— Finally, volts increase to setpoint and amps
will decrease.
The time it takes to reach optimum voltage and am-
perage will vary with engine speed, load, and ambient
temperature.
• High-cycle Maintenance-free Battery:
— These batteries respond better than standard
maintenance-free. Charge acceptance of these
batteries may display characteristics similar to
maintenance batteries.
NOTICE
Hazard Definitions
These terms are used to bring attention to presence of hazard(s)
of various risk levels or to important information concerning
product life.
Indicates presence of hazards that
will or can cause minor personal
injury or property damage.
Indicates special instructions on
installation, operation or mainte-
nance that are important but not
related to personal injury hazards.
CAUTION
NOTICE
N1326-1 Alternator
Troubleshooting Guide
Charge Volt and Amp Values
Voltage and amperage levels are functions of the battery
state of charge. If batteries are in a state of discharge,
as after extended cranking time to start the engine,
system volts when measured after the engine is started
will be lower than the regulator setpoint, and system
amps will be high. This condition is normal for the
charging system. Measured values of system volts and
amps will depend on the level of battery discharge; in
other words, the greater the battery discharge level, the
lower the system volts and higher the system amps will
be.
Voltage and amperage readings will change: System volt-
age reading will increase to regulator setpoint, and sys-
tem amps will decrease to low level (depending on other
loads) as batteries recover and become fully charged.
•
Low Amps: Minimum or lowest charging system
amp value required to maintain battery state of
charge; obtained when testing the charging system
with a fully charged battery and no other loads ap-
plied. This value will vary with battery type.
• Medium Amps: System amp value that can cause
battery temperature to rise above adequate charging
temperature within 4-8 hours of charge time. To pre-
vent battery damage, charge amps should be de-
creased when battery temperature rises. Check bat-
tery manufacturer recommendations on proper rates
of charge amps.
• High Amps: System amp value that can cause bat-
tery temperature to rise above adequate charging
temperature within 2-3 hours. To prevent battery
damage, charge amps should be decreased when the
battery temperature rises. Check battery manufac-
turer recommendations on proper rates of charge
amps.
• Battery Voltage: Steady-state volt value measured
with battery in open circuit with no battery load.
This value relates to battery state of charge.
• Charge Voltage: Volt value obtained when charging
system is operating. This value will be higher than
battery voltage and must never exceed the regulator
voltage setpoint.
• B+ Voltage: Volt value obtained when measuring
voltage at battery positive terminal or alternator B+
terminal.
• Surface Charge: Higher-than-normal battery voltage
occurring when battery is removed from battery
charger. Surface charge must be removed to deter-
mine true battery voltage and state of charge.
• Significant Magnetism: Change in strength or inten-
sity of a magnetic field present in the alternator rotor
shaft when the field coil is energized. The magnetic
field strength when the field coil is energized should
feel stronger than when the field is not energized.
• Voltage Droop or Sag: Normal condition which oc-
curs when the load demand on an alternator is great-
er than rated alternator output at given rotor shaft
RPM.