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Re: voltage dropping... dropping...

To: "scirocco list" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Subject: Re: voltage dropping... dropping...
From: "Rick Alexander" <rick@brubakerbox.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 18:48:52 -0500
References: <NDBBIKPFOKBJCOINBGGIIEGAEKAA.scwillia@genuity.com> <02b301c17e87$68dfb2a0$0200a8c0@Al>
Sender: owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Well, mostly but remember that your stream needs to flow back as well
(negative side). Any improvements that you make to the positive side will be
for naught if you haven't made the same improvements to the negative side.
This is a common problem when troubleshooting electrical problems. Many
people fail to look at the ground side. "I have electricity to the part but
it still will not work". You can't put more people in the elevator until you
have let a few out.

Rick Alexander
http://www.brubakerbox.com
http://clubs.hemmings.com/hams/
http://clubs.hemmings.com/vwsrus/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Allyn" <amalventano1@home.com>
To: "Scott Williams" <scwillia@genuity.com>; "scirocco list"
<scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: voltage dropping... dropping...


>     Inadequate cable would generate a voltage drop across itself. That
would
> mean that as the alternator tried to charge the battery, some voltage
would
> be lost along the way. This is directly proportional to current through
the
> wire, so the more of a load the battery is on the alternator (charging
> harder), the greater the voltage drop on the wire would be, resulting in
> less voltage left at the battery. The improtant thing to realize is that
the
> battery would still charge in the end. Think of a stream. The level of
water
> is the voltage. Your battery with the lower voltage is the end of the
> stream. Water flows down from the nearby mountain (alternator), through
the
> stream (wiring), and finally to the lake (battery). Now if you park your
> rally car in the stream, you have blocked it somewhat (high resistance
> connection). The lake fills up slower, but it still fills up. Also of
> important note: this same high resistance would cause voltage to go UP at
> the alternator (it's doing LESS work), so i'm guessing your battery line
is
> just fine.
>     As for a check, there is a bentley check on it. Voltage should be x at
> 3k rpm, etc. This check is designed to be at the alternator, but the
bentley
> probably has you check at the battery.
> Hope this helps,
> Allyn
>
> Allyn Malventano, ETC(SS), USN
> 87 Rieger GTO Scirocco 16v (daily driver, 170k, rocco #6) running - for
now
> 87 Jetta 8v Wolfsburg 2dr (daily driver, 260k, 0 rattles, original clutch,
> driveshafts, wheels :)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Williams" <scwillia@genuity.com>
> To: "Allyn" <amalventano1@home.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 1:10 PM
> Subject: RE: voltage dropping... dropping...
>
>
> > Yah, there should be no degenerative effect. The voltage output was okay
> > before but it is steadily getting worse. Do you agree that it is
probably
> > the regulator at fault? Could inadequate cabling possibly over work the
> > alternator and cause it to fail (voltage regulator or otherwise)? If so,
> how
> > long should this take. I doubt that I have driven 500 miles on the car
> since
> > the alternator went in.
> >
> > P.S. Now that I've got my multimeter, what sort of readings should I
take
> to
> > diagnose this problem? Thanks.
> > ______________________________
> > Scott F. Williams
> > Account Manager
> > GENUiTY - Eastern Region
> > 100 Wall Street, 10th Floor
> > New York, NY 10005
> > *NEW* Voice: 646.576.8465
> > Cell: 917.648.2256
> > scott.williams@genuity.com
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Allyn [mailto:amalventano1@home.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 12:50 PM
> > > To: Scott Williams
> > > Subject: Re: voltage dropping... dropping...
> > >
> > >
> > > Just a bad ground shouldnt make the voltage drop continuously
> > > over time, it
> > > will only slow the rate of charge, not stop it/make it work in
> > > the opposite
> > > direction (discharge).
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Scott Williams" <scwillia@genuity.com>
> > > To: "Allyn" <amalventano1@home.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 12:34 PM
> > > Subject: RE: voltage dropping... dropping...
> > >
> > >
> > > > Well, so long as I can get it home tonight, I'll follow TBerk's
> advice:
> > > rig
> > > > up some auxillary grounds and charge her up. I just need this
> > > car to last
> > > me
> > > > a week or so until I get my GTX back. Grrrr...
> > > > ______________________________
> > > > Scott F. Williams
> > > > Account Manager
> > > > GENUiTY - Eastern Region
> > > > 100 Wall Street, 10th Floor
> > > > New York, NY 10005
> > > > *NEW* Voice: 646.576.8465
> > > > Cell: 917.648.2256
> > > > scott.williams@genuity.com
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Allyn [mailto:amalventano1@home.com]
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 12:32 PM
> > > > > To: Scott Williams; Scirocco List
> > > > > Subject: Re: voltage dropping... dropping...
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Yep, sounds like you've been driving on the battery only for a
> while.
> > > > > Al
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Scott Williams" <scwillia@genuity.com>
> > > > > To: "Scirocco List" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 12:09 PM
> > > > > Subject: voltage dropping... dropping...
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > This car of mine is a real pain in the ass. According to my
> > > > > voltmeter, it
> > > > > > has been charging consistently at around 13V (seems sorta
> > > low) for the
> > > > > last
> > > > > > week. However, it dropped to 12V yesterday morning. Last night
and
> > > this
> > > > > > morning it is pegged at 10V. Hopefully, I'll be able to drive
> > > > > it home this
> > > > > > evening. :^(
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Tech specifics: The alternator is newly rebuilt and the belts
are
> > > tight.
> > > > > The
> > > > > > battery is mounted in the trunk with the ground cable run
> > > to the rear
> > > > > bumper
> > > > > > bolts. Hmmm... could this be a problem with the voltage
regulator?
> > > > > > ______________________________
> > > > > > Scott F. Williams
> > > > > > Account Manager
> > > > > > GENUiTY - Eastern Region
> > > > > > 100 Wall Street, 10th Floor
> > > > > > New York, NY 10005
> > > > > > *NEW* Voice: 646.576.8465
> > > > > > Cell: 917.648.2256
> > > > > > scott.williams@genuity.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
> > > > > > To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to
> > > > > majordomo@scirocco.org
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
>
>
> --
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>


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References:
- Re: voltage dropping... dropping...
  - From: "Allyn" <amalventano1@home.com>
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