Mark Rinker
11-28-2010, 08:30
My 2009 came from factory with dual alternators. For the last 12K miles, the voltage meter would read just shy of 14V, the straight up number on the round dial.
Yesterday, the gauge read nearly 15.5V - a marked difference in the position of the needle...from about 11:30 position where it had been, to about 2:00 position...I had just removed the snowplow, and figured the batteries might have been a bit low from snowplow duty, and taking a big charge from the alternators, so began to watch it carefully.
The gauge continued to read the same after nearly 2+ hrs of driving. Only in the evening on the way home when I turned on the headlights, driving lights, rear defog, radio, and heater fan was I able to 'pull' the voltage meter down to about 14.5V, still slightly higher than normal.
What would account for the higher voltage reading? How high before things get bad for electronics?
Are the dual 120 amp alternators contolled or regulated externally in an way, or just internally with standard voltage regulators?
Could this mean one of the two is in need of a new regulator?
Why would anyone order a truck with dual alternators, and not heated mirrors and seats? LOL ;)
Yesterday, the gauge read nearly 15.5V - a marked difference in the position of the needle...from about 11:30 position where it had been, to about 2:00 position...I had just removed the snowplow, and figured the batteries might have been a bit low from snowplow duty, and taking a big charge from the alternators, so began to watch it carefully.
The gauge continued to read the same after nearly 2+ hrs of driving. Only in the evening on the way home when I turned on the headlights, driving lights, rear defog, radio, and heater fan was I able to 'pull' the voltage meter down to about 14.5V, still slightly higher than normal.
What would account for the higher voltage reading? How high before things get bad for electronics?
Are the dual 120 amp alternators contolled or regulated externally in an way, or just internally with standard voltage regulators?
Could this mean one of the two is in need of a new regulator?
Why would anyone order a truck with dual alternators, and not heated mirrors and seats? LOL ;)